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——— Pt 2. 
ss . 






— 


Gammon Sense Theology; 


oR, 


NAKED TRUTHS IN ROUGH SHOD RHYME 


ABOUT 


Human Nature and Human Life. 


WITH 


A CRITIQUE UPON THE CREEDS. 


\ 1 - 
| 


IN FOUR PARTS. 


By D. HOWLAND HAMILTON, 


THIRTY YEARS A PRACTICAL PHRENOLOGIST. 


MOTTO IN WRITING: 


Truthful Ideas, Point and Pith, first; Rythm and Rhyme second. 


inc 


Truth shows the working of God’s laws —the bent of Deity’s mind — 
The channel that God’s thoughts run in— the way that God’s inclined. 
Truth, therefore, is the real soul of all that may exist ;. 

And search for it will not admit of e’en the slightest twist. 

Let cowards fear to trust the truth, and paddle round the shore, 

I'll hoist my sails, give Truth the helm, then let the billows roar. 


LEWISTON, ME.: 


PUBLISHED BY THE AUTIOR, 


AND SOLD BY AGENTS, OR SENT BY MAIL. 
Address the Writer. 


1872. 






. \ 
» See 


Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1872, 
D. HOWLAND HAMILTON, ‘ 
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 


ao 2 






TO THE 
INHERENT, UNBIASED, 
UNPERVERTED 
COMMON-SENSE OF MANKIND, 


THIS INTUITIVE VOLUME 
IS 


* RESPECTFULLY ” DEDICATED. 


(iii) 


PA Re: 


COMMON-SENSE DOCTRINES DEDUCED FROM THE, STUDY OF 
PHYSICAL AND MENTAL NATURE. 


PAR T1111. 


COMMON-SENSE VIEWS OF THE BIBLE, JESUS AND HIS TEACH- 
INGS, WITH A CRITIQUE UPON THE CREEDS. 


PART 111. 


SERIO-COMIC -RHYMINGS ABOUT HUMAN NATURE AND HUMAN 
LIFE, EMBRACING HITS AT POPULAR ERRORS. 


PART IV. 


THE AUTHOR’S RELIGIOUS HISTORY, OR EXPERIENCES IN THE 
CHURCH, WITH REFLECTIONS UPON HER VARIOUS TEACH- 
INGS, AND THE RESULT. 


(iv) 


PREFACE. 


Here, thoughtful reader, let me say, 
I love the truth right well, 

And in my rhymings I have aimed 
The naked truth to tell. 


I have not tried to gloss my thought 
With fine poetic phrase, 

Nor have I turned aside one whit, 
To court for public praise. 


My heart untrammelled, undismayed, 
Has dared to think right out, 

And clothe its thought in garb so plain, 
That none who read may doubt. 


I’ve sought to find the reason why 
Man’s life is what it is, 

And in my searchings have not failed 
The God within to quiz. 


I leng for that society 
Where love’s the ruling theme — 
Where all disguise is banished, 
And all are as they seem. 


I long to meet in confidence 
Each man so frankly true 

He could not wrong his neighbor, 
Though Gentile, Greek, or Jew. 


(v) 


Preface. 


I long to see the human race 
With wisdom so endowed, 

That hurtful superstitions 
May never more becloud. 


I long to see man’s reas’ning powers 
Redeemed from degradation, 

And placed upon the throne of mind 
To guide religious action. 


I long to sce inherent laws 
Discerned and well obeyed ; 

And God —the Good — so lovely shown 
That none can be afraid. 


I long to see the sciences 
Well wedded to religion, 
And all the world believers in 
The doctrines of progression. 


To this end all my rhymes are bent 


With all the force I’ve got ; 
In honest faith I send them forth 
Though well received or not. 





CONTENTS. 


PART I. — Drpactic. ; 


A Thank-offering for Life and Destiny : : F . ° ° 
What is Truth, and How Shall We Find It? 

Who Made God, and What of His Government? 

Is God Jess than Garrison? 

Whence Cometh Evil? ; . ; : 

Are All Men Free and Equal? . ; : 

Is Man entirely Selfish? 

Nature rejoices in Man’s Existence, ae Multiplies as Pest as Sire can 
Happiness, Present and Future — The Legitimate End of all Pursuit 
Self-Control and Honesty — the Groundwork of Happiness 3 
Natural and Spiritual Laws — Man’s Great Tutor and Compensator . 
What is True Religion? A 
Who isthe Wise Man? . : : 


Who is the Fortunate Man? , : * 2 4 Z F 
Who is the Neighbor? i 2 é 
When does Man’s Probation End? : . : 


Does Man’s Real Duty and Interest ever Conflict? 


Mourn not for the Past — Live in the, Present — Have an Eye i the ae 


Why such Ups and Downs inLife? .  .. é : : : 
Thoughts suggested bya Skull . . Sg - ; : : : 


Phrenology and its Teachings . P 2 . . ° ° 
Good Heads, and What Follows yn : ; : Py 
Bad Heads, and Who’s to Blame F é E 
Why Differ Men so Widely? Why? Why? Why? . A ° 
The Answer Why . ‘ . ° 


The Fatalistic Conditions of Life and ae Moulding Power of Cons es 


Motherhood and Fatherhood : i . f : < 
Where Parents mostly Failin Training. ; 

The Science of Matrimony . Z : 7 A : : “ 
The Blissful Results of True Moraes : : 7 : A 
What about Jesus — called the Christ : : : F : : 
What about being Born Again . : : : ° . ° é 
What about Forgiveness . : . . 3 : ° . 
What about Sanctification . “ 4 oe A ite’ Ps A 
What about Charity . - . ; . ° . : . 
What about the Golden Rule i . ; a : 2 

What about the Good Samaritan A 2 A “ : : ‘ 
What about Infidelity and Infidels . : . ° : é 
What about Angel Ministration . - 2 4 : : : 
What about Special Providence . . ‘ ° « : ° . 
What about the Devil . : “ : 4 ‘ : A ° 
What about an Endless Hell “ : : < n : . : 
What about the Fall . ‘ F ‘ 7 F . a ° 
What about the Resurrection . : ° ° . ° ° ° 


Go @ os co 92 
a= oe DS LO 


bo | 


co co So > St 
NO We © 


Vill Contents. 


What about the Deluge A . : : . : 
What about Public Prayer . : rei ae a ; 
What about the Good Time Coming . : . : 
What IS Absolute Justice . ‘ : : . 


PART II. — Criricat. 


Whence come Bibles? “ : . . ‘ : 
All Bibles assume to come from God . ; ; re 
They all appeal to Wonder, and not to Reason... 
Our Bible may be the Best of Them . 3 AS a 
Its Writers were mostly Noble and Talented Men 

Christ Jesus the most Gifted and Purest of Bible Men 


Thanks for the Light Revealed through att Life and Death 


A Godly Man, but not the God . Ai 1 : . 
His Temptation in the Wilderness ; 
Heaven is Founded on the Truths Christ Taught : 


Woe to the Pharisees . : , : 
Full Fellowship with Christ no Trifling Thing : . 
No Pomp in Heaven . : ; : : ; ; 
No Heaven without Humility . : “ . . 
Faith Naught without Obedience ; : : : 
Christianity has no Place in War . : 


All Men should be Sons of God, or Good . >. : 
All Men are at Liberty to Pursue the Truth : : 
Our Bible not a Finality E 

Bible Creeds not Reliable. ‘ : : 5 ; 
The Bible far from being Infallible  . . A 


Since Bible Creeds Oppose each other, We hess Reject Them All : 
What shall We Believe? or, Where is the Truth? — the Author’s First Poem . 107 


When Bibles and Nature disagree, which shall Fall? . 
Creeds have always Opposed the March of Science, . 
Creeds Ignore Reason in Religion 


** Seek Faith,” says Creed; ‘* Seek Evidence,” says Reason. — Which is right? 120 


Christ was Misunderstood by the Evangelists 


The Bible as a whole is Unworthy of God and Cramping to Man 


° 


- 118 
evil 
. 119 


120 
Ape be | 


The Bible so often contradicts Nature and Reason, it ceases to be Acuthiperty 122 


PART III. —Serio-Comic. 


“Get Up and Get” ‘ ‘ ; : ; 
““Root Hog or Die” . 2 ° : : . 
*¢ Hold on — Keep a Stiff Upper Lip 


The Dutchman’s Query about Special RiGentdices A 


Practise what you Preach . : : : . 
The Changes of a Year 5 : ‘ 5 ‘ . 
Something Good in All A : : : : 
Shall Woman Vote? 


PART IV. — ExPerRIMENTAL. 


The: Author’s: Religious:Experience . : . : 


RECAPITULATION ‘ ; A A 4 


. 125 
« 124 
. 124 
» toe 
: : eee 
. ow, eles 
2130 
- 151 


- 186-145 


‘tive 





PART I. 


THE TEACHINGS OF NATURE. 


A Thank-offering for Life and Destiny. 
I thank thee, O, Good Father God ! for conscious life and being, 
For power to think, for power to feel, for soul within, undying. 
I thank thee, O, Good Mother Earth! for clothing up my soul 
With nerve and sinew, flesh and bone, to locomote with all. 


I thank thee, O, thou Dual God! that in thy wisdom’s will 
A niche was found for such as I; that niche my joy to fill. 


I thank you for the faith I have my soul can never die, 
Though death may melt its casket down ’twill wing it for the sky. 


I thank y6u for the consciousness that progress ne’er shall end, 
That every human being will forever upward tend. 


It matters not how dark the clouds that shroud men here below, 
Eternal progress compensates for all of earthly woe. 


Then take my thanks, Parental Powers, for what men are to-day, 
And for the chance they have to grow, for ever and for aye. 


Ye have, through nature, ages worked to get the human soul, 
And gotten well, we dare presume, ye’ll march it to the goal. 


Man’s present state is but a point ’twixt two eternities, 
The one gives life, the other growth; O, Wonderful Maternities ! 


O, Father! Mother! Nature! God! ye’re All in All to me; 
In you I live; in you I move; in you alone I’m free. 


"Twas not enough, O, Powers Divine! to give man being here, — 
Your work’s not done till man is brought unto a perfect sphere. 
Ye have well wrought to bring man forth, and knowing what ye’ve 
We trust you to complete the work —aye, polish every one. [done, 
Ye have a whole eternity in which to endow the race, 

Aud ‘none are so imperfect that ye can o’erlook their case. 


But ye'll do for them just all ye can, in every possible way 
In this, and in the future life, where’er immortals stray. 


(9) 


10 Common Sense Theology 


e é ‘ 
If not, ye are not worthy, then, the name of Great I Am; ~ 
Your goodness must exceed your power, else greatness were a sham. 


All things in heaven and in earth, in spirit and in letter, 
Are just as good as ye can have, without more time to better. 


A thousand epochs passed before ye could give Christ a birth, 
And thousands more may pass before one like Him walks the earth. 


Yet all were made at birth as good as ye could make them then; 
If not, then ye are not so good as ye then might have been. 


And if I thought ye had not done all that ye could for me, 
I’d love you not — might hate ‘you then to all eternity. 


But feeling that ye have done all conditions would allow, 
I love you first, I love you last, your goodness Pll avow. 


And Pll defend you heartily against that awful lie 
Which tortures men eternally, and never lets them die. 


Because, forsooth, not wise enough to conquer sin at once, 
And purify themselves in full ere death may summons hence. 


I'll tell them, every single one, ye’re hasting them to heaven 
~ As fast as their untutored wills allow them to be driven. 


I'll also tell them, every one, that none reach heaven in sin, 
For sin robs heaven of harmony —-it cannot dwell therein. 


. 
But all are now approaching it, and, therefore, must in time 
Get sick of sin and friction, too, and crave that sinless clime. 


I will not ask you to “come down ” and “bless this fallen race,” 
I know you're here, at work like God’s, in every lawful place. 


Man is not fallen — ne’er was up — he’s rising evermore, [ before. 
And when grown wise he’ll cease from sin, Gods know he won't 


Man’s will in wisdom heeds your laws, in sin they’re set aside, 
But ev’ry soul ye’ll learn at length to float on wisdom’s tide. 


What is Truth, and How Shall we find It? 


Truth shows the working of God’s laws, the bent of Deity’s mind, 
The channel that God’s tho’ts run in, the way that God’s inclined. 


Truth dwells.in.all realities, just as they may exist, 
Conforms to facts, just as they are, without a single twist. 


Hence, truth exists in, by and with all things that do exist ; 
But what does not exist is not truth by any sort of twist. 


Truth, therefore, is the real soul of all that does exist, 
And search for it will not admit of e’en the slightest twist. 

















in Rough Shod Rhyme. 11 


Truth, like the globe, is always round — looks right viewed every 
It courts inspection at all points, and never leads astray. [ way, 


Thetruth, said Christ, shall make men free, ’tis not a guessing faith, 


Faith in “ truth is righteous faith, so Ghiet and reason saith. 


To find the truth trace Nature’s laws, ’tis seen in their effect, 
The only way to learn the truth is squarely to dissect ; 


And that with candor so impartial it will never swerve a hair 
From just conviction brought about by testimony fair. 


Our eyes, and ears, and intuitions, crowned with enlightened rea- 
No other man must master call—that surely would be treason. [son, 


Yes, treason of the darkest dye, ’tis the unpard’nable sin ; 
To reason every soul must list if glory it would win. 


With reason wanting man’s a fool, as senseless as an animal ; 
_Its possession makes him Godlike, therefore, never call it “ carnal.” 


_Man’s reason always hugs the truth when his will allows it, 
And his conscience, well attuned, inwardly avows it. 


So use your reason, find the truth, boldly dare to own it 
And never let you soul be cramped into a soulless bigot. 


As every one who fain would see, must trust his own eyesight, 
So must thy soul, if it would grow, judge for itself what’s right.. 


Then up and doing, let your manhood have an airing in the light,, 
Be free to think and free to utter all thy soul conceives is right. 


Then, when thou comest to the threshold of that soul-world yet un-- 
seen, 

Thou shalt have abundant entrance — none can call you weak or- 
mean. 


All great discoveries have had inferior beginnings, 
And all our great reformers have met stupid church revilings. 


Then let your heart be true as steel in spite of church protest, [blest. 
Who knows but what the world through you may somehow yet be: 


Mere trifles, often,-lead unto the grandest of discoveries, 


By drawing men of thought into the most prolific reveries. 
A little floating driftwood led Columbus to this nation ; 
The falling apple, Newton says, suggested gravitation. 


A kite experiment has given us the telegraphic line, 


And humming tea-kettles bespoke the mighty steam-engine:. 
Digging a trench to set a mill in California’s wild, 
Turned up a little yellow dust which fevered all the world. 


A little greasy water found on Pennsylvania’s soil, 


By thought has teased old Mother Earth until she spouts our oil. 


m2 Common Sense Theology 


The little: raps at Rochester, responded to in fun, 
Have changed the faith of millions as round the world they’ve run. 


The voice of one lone Garrison keyed up to freedom’s note, 
Hath pierced the nation through and thro’ till negro millions vote. 
And thus the world progresses on from littles unto greats, 

As feeble colonies have grown into United States. 

And mighty truths are yet unknown which trifles must reveal ; 
In Nature’s Book they’ll all be read as progress breaks the seal. 
And every truth’s a “ Word of God,” though wrote by Greek or 
And upright souls will never spurn what reason says is true. [Jew, 
No matter if it do upset our most ambitious plans, 

Truth is the rock alone on which true manhood ever stands. 

The Church, in blindness, sets herself against the march of truth, 
And would forbid that trifles should show up her wrongs, forsooth. 
She fears that truth will disannul her “ Blessed Book Divine,” 
And prove her not infallible, hence all her D.D.’s whine. — 

‘She argues less to find the truth than to sustain her Book, 
-Her faith in that must not grow less by any hogk or crook. 


‘She’d sooner have, as it would seem, all nature contradicted, [ed. 
‘Than have her errors much exposed, and thence her power restrict- 


iBut ah! she’d better let God’s laws work out his grand design, 
-Nor grumble at the Master’s rod while she is out of line. 


-She must not think her years or prayers can bolster her in error, 
or progress has unchained man’s soul and robbed her of her terror. 


Her counsels all shut reason out, for fear it will annul 

Her flimsy claims to reverence, hence doomed she is to fall. 

She'll find, at length, that God cares more for one great law in na- 
ture, : 

“Than for ten thousand wordy books, though labelled “ Holy Scrip- 
ture.” . 


“Tis not but that her Book may hold some truths of great account, 
But Nature holds the ail of truth, her Book but small amount. ~ 


“ Love thou thy neighbor as thyself,” sums up the Law and Gospel, 
But Nature holds the keys of life, the thought of all the thoughtful. 


All Bibles, like all else, came forth out of unfolding nature, 


-And they would do much good, no doubt, were church a reasoning ~ 


creature. 


ee ee a a ee ee 





in Rough Shod Rhyme. 13 


Who made God, and what of his Government ? * 


* Who made God?” is often asked by children very young ; 
The parent says: “QO! hush, my child, hush up your silly tongue.” 


“But ma, do tell, I want to know; please ma, tell me, who did 2” 
*(zod made himself; there now be still.” “ I don’t see how he could.” 


God never made himself, ’tis plain, and if he were created, [ed. 
He’s less than Wisdom, Love, or Truth—they couldn't be prevent- 


-Hence, what but pure necessity made God antl all we see? 
It couldn’t have been otherwise, the way it seems to me. 


From rolling worlds to motes of dust, from insect up to man, 
Eternal fitness operates — the very fittest plan. 


All the Deific attributes had origin in necessity ; [ sity. 
Were never made, can’t be destroyed, and thence comes all diver- 


God is the law, the love, the life, of nature, all pervading ; 
The sum of all intelliggmee, eternally progressing. 


His best embodiment is man — the climax of creation, 
The compound of all elements — the promise of perfection. 





God’s government is law inherent, unswerving in its course ; 
No prayers can ever alter it “for better or fot worse.” 


And nothing can disturb his peace, of this we may be sure, 
For he is harmony itself, all lovely, true and pure. 


He can’t be angered, ne’er repents, has perfect self-control ; 
Is satisfied with all he’s done, though further he'll unroll. 


He takes the crudest chaos and works it into man; 
Then takes the crudest manhood, and grows it all he can. 


Sometimes, conditions being hard, he starts a homely style ; 
But being the best he then could do, he’s happy all the while. 


If such don’t act so prettily, he does not scold nor fret ; 
There’s plenty time to scour them up, and he’ll perfect them yet, 


Sooner or later, according to their crudeness, and the chance 
He has to bring his laws to bear and fit them for advance. 


When God can’t make a Washington, he makes a ” Jim Buchan ;” 
And if he lacks for true blue stuff, he makes a Davis man. 


He never makes two men alike—this fact is plainly shown ; 
Go search the globe for other self, and you’ll come home alone. 


The reason is, conditions all are never twice the same, 
And hence the compounds vary much, still God is not to blame. 


Extremes of goodness, well as guilt, all o’er the world are seen, 
Some almost gods, some almost devils, with human hosts between. 


14 ~ Common Sense Theology 


There must be peers, and also fools, in every age and clime ; 
Old honest Abes and wicked Jeffs, and Booths of fouler crime. 


Yet all are pupils in God’s school, his laws the tutors there, 
Who breaks the rules will get the raps, but no one gets despair. 


If some rebel, and curse and swear and sin against each other, — 
He does not rise on brimstone stock, but lets his laws work order. 


He knows they’re born in ignorance, have everything to learn ; 
Why should he growl at their mistakes or let his anger burn? 


He gives them laws*to teach them — inherent, wise and good — _ 
Protects these laws with penalties, the mildest that he could, 


And by them keeps on working, just happy 4ll the while ; 
His children can’t offend him, he knows their make and style. 


He’ll end their troubles by and by, he’ll grow them out of sin, 
Transplant them into angel-life, where every heart he’ll win. 


Sooner or later, according to their crudeness, and the.chance 
He has to bring his laws to bear and fit th@ga for advance. 
He may be ages saving some who were conceived in sin, 
Who got existence near the brute, yet even such he’ll win, 


Now, ev’ry thing in heaven and earth is good as he can have it, 
Till more of time shall give the chance to better and improve it. 


And so he keeps in harmony, happy forevermore ; ° 
And if there’s call for patience, he’s plenty left in store. 


The little turmoils on the earth —- wars, earthquakes and the like — 
Do not disturb his peace of mind, ’tis progress on the strike. 


When Louis N., with haughty pride, thinks to thrash the Germans, 
He lets him go and doff his crown, so Frenchmen may get freedom. 


When States secede as in the South, because his blackman’s black, 
He does not stop the planets course, but lets their rifles crack. 


Full well he knows that they’ll get whipped and learn a lesson by it, ° 
If lacking sense to keep them out, he’s willing they should try it. 


And if the North have not enough of nobleness of spirit 

To conquer them with acts of love, then they too have to rue it. 
Things quite important unto men, producing grief and ire, 

He knows are but the wake of growth, ’tis crudeness in the fire. 


And if ten thousand bodies die and give their souls release, 
He knows it does not stop their growth, and so he keeps his peace ; 


But always keeps on working for man’s eternal good ; 
I never pray to alter him: I could not if I would. 


The many prayers sent up by men to change his righteous will, 
Are only so much idle breath; he keeps his purpose still. 





in Rough Shod Rhyme. — gh 


The only prayers God heeds at all are prayers for honest hearts ; 
Such prayers weil harmonize with law, therein true progress starts. 
So do not think to regulate, let God in wisdom reign, — [keep sane. 
He'll bring things round all right in time, keep cool, keep calm, 


How wild, immodest, impolite, presumptuous some men pray ; 
But even this does not disturb, he lets them gas away. 


Thus all things harmonize with God, nothing offends his sight, 


Because as good as can be yet, aw teal ed tis *tis right, 


Till better conditions give the chance to better and improve it; 
Then God is ready to advance to polish and refine it. 


To sum it up, he’s wise and good, keeps all things working well, 
Governs the whole by righteous law, so needs no endless hell. 


His laws do all the punishing, and all the blessing, too ; 
He reigns in perfect faithfulness, hence peace is his all through. 


When men have wisdom in themselves enough to keep from sin, 
And keep in harmony with law, then they’ll “have peace within. 


But until then there is no peace, ’tis best there should be none, 
Else man would rest in crudity and heaven be unknown. 


S > 


God being honest, wise and good, can’t be disturbed by man ; 
His wisdom and his charity cry, man does the best he can, 


Consid’ring what conditions do attend upon his birth, 
And what upon his teaching, too — God’s hope is in man’s growth. 


He don’t expect the clumsy toad to run a race with cats, 
Nor does he ask the geese. and hens to hunt for mice and rats. 


He can’t expect the Hottentots to act like men of science, 
Nor does he look in dens of vice for moral self-reliance. 


He only asks for time to make such changes in condition 
As shall unfold the germ within, and bring it to fruition. 


Is God less than Garrison 2 


How strangely warped the mind that can believe in a cruel Deity, 
A God revengeful, stiff and hard, relentless in his tyranny. 


Such minds have little reas’ning scope, and less of love and charity, 
No-real faith in God or good, the victims of anxiety. 


They seemingly forget that God cannot be less than good, 
And ne’er chastises but to save, as a any parent would. 


Shall man be taught to curb his wrath and render good for evil, 
While God’s allowed to whet his ire and send men to the devil? 


16 Common Sense Theology 


If God does not in every way do all he possibly can 
To make men happy, wise and good, he’s dess than many @ man. 


Philanthropists know that men are weak, unbalanced and ungrown, 
And if at once they do not see the promise of the seed they’ve sown, 


They do not doom to endless hell, as bigots have from yore ; 
They wait a while, then try again, keep knocking at the door. 


- They point the truth and drive it home, and try to make it stick, 
But if it don’t they try again, they know that men are sick. 


How Garrison worked and waited, too, and worked and waited 


At last emancipation came, and Garrison had his fill. [ still, 


But ah! how loth e’en churchmen were to listen to his prayer, — 
And some of them were so enraged they were inclined to swear. 


But what of that? they saw at last, repented and reformed, 
And though their master would not fight, they went to war well 
armed. 


They gave their treasure, spilled their blood, in freedom’s name 
fought well, 
They’d found the blackman hada soul which none should buy or sell. 


Garrison knew his blaze of light would by and by shine through, 
And so it did, and now at last the “ nigger” has his due. 


Shall God do Jess than Garrison to elevate the race ? 
When he’s a whole eternity of time as well as space 


To do his work in? Will he cease ever to be godly good, 
And kind, and charitable? ’tis madness to think he ever could. 


A good God, not only here on earth, does all he possibly can 
To purify and elevate and happify the man, 


But crowns this life with higher life, with better chance to win, 
To learn the wisdom of his laws, the foolishness of sin; 


And ’till the church has learned the truth that God is purely love, 
She’s not a fitting guide to heaven, nor can the Lord approve. 


How can a people rise above the God they most revere? 
If he has hate and hell in him, in them these must appear. 


What use to teach her followers to render good for evil, 
While she proclaims an endless hell, and worse, an endless devil? 


Shall God require of fallen (?) man what he won’t do himself? 
"Tis time such inconsistencies were laid upon the shelf, 


And “carnal reason ” set at work to frame a better God, — 
One more consistent with himself, a real honest Lord. 


Should church just drop her trinity, make Jove her only God, 
Her mysteries would all dissolve, and all might “know the Lord.” 


. 
| 
; 





in Rough Shod Rhyme. 17 


Whence cometh Evil? 
That great theologic question, the origin of evil, 
Has wrought up many a fruitful mind into a fruitless travel. 


The great mistake has always been in overlooking this, 
That God needs time to grow a world, or grow men up to Dliss. 


In the ignorance of men, and the crudeness of matter, 
Ines the origin of evil, with all the devil's clatter. 


In that process of refinement, which matter must go through, — 

To reach the highest manhood, all evil gets its cue. 

* But — but — but —” says the Bible man, “ there is a roaring devil 
That goeth to and fro the earth: he authors all the evil!” 


No! No! The uncontrolled propensity of heads too full at the base 
Now answers well to all the devil that ever cursed the race. — 


_ That mythic power called devil, friend, is nature’s efflorescence, 


The froth and scum that rises from her chemical effervescence. 


God sees no evil anywhere, he sees that things are gross, 
And need much fire and friction to rid them of their dross. 


In growing, conscious reas’ning life, out of inconscious matter, 
There must be travail, pain, and woe; God “ couldn’t do no better.” 


God cannot work, except by laws which often interfere 
With man’s untutored, unwise will, and hence man’s trials here. 


Through lack of knowledge of God’s laws. men often suffer grief, 
Which otherwise had passed them by, in wisdom find relief. 


Still, when mankind, in ignorance, run into sin and sorrow, 
There comes this wholesome recompense, they’re wiser on the 
morrow. 


When innocence becomes involved in accidental woes, 
Necessity, without design, across its pathway flows. 


There’s recompense, howe’er, for this, the knowledge of such woes 
Will heighten future happiness by contrast as it goes. 


All harsh events God cannot help, while nature is a-growing ; 
And everybody stands a chance to get some overflowing. 


If some escape ’tis not because the Lord deals special grace ; 
It is because they’re not’n the way while progress runs her race. 


All pains and woes grow less and less as men advance in wisdom ; 
And heaven comes at last to all when ripened for the kingdom. 


Through tribulation deep, said Christ, ye are to enter heaven, 
Thy neighbor’s sins must be forgiven till seventy times seven ; 
9 


ad 


13 Common Sense Theology 


Which presupposes much ungrowth that has to be o’ercome, 
In order to attain unto a peaceful, sinless home. 


That great offences come, said he, I know it must needs be ; 
But woe to him through whom they come, such need more hell 
than ye. 


And that they’ll get, because God’s laws all frictionize with sin ; 
True freedom comes by growth alone, the wise may enter in. 


carth’s crudeness brings man’s evils all, refinement is their cure ; 
Full growth in manhood, wisdom, love, opes heaven, shuts hell — 
be truer. : 
Most happy he who’s wise enough to curb his grosser aims, 
And live in love with righteous law ; on heaven such soon lay claims. . 


Yfad wisdom dwelt with Adam he ne’er had caught his fall, 
And as it was with Adam so is it with us all. 


When Pharisees had nailed Christ up, while hanging there in woe, 
Iie prayed, ’tis said, “ Father, forgive, they know not what they do.” 


If such knew not could Adam know while such a child in years, 
With Eve and Serpent close at hand to charm away his fears ? 


Men stumble into ‘sin and woe through lack of wisdom’s light ; 
“Twas wisdom that made Jesus good and true to what was right. 


And all had been as good as he, had circumstance allowed ; 
But being not so well conceived, are not so well endowed. 


God cannot germ a noble soul with bad conditions rife, ite. 
But does the best he can each time ; ; rich boon, though poor, our 


For e’en the weakest of the race, immortal if he be, 
3y law will be obliged to grow, in wisdom yet be free. 


If seme of life’s contingencies here weigh the mortal down, 
The future shall undo the load and plait a happy crown. 


Hope gives her promise of the fact, she binds her bruised reeds, 
Pours in the oil of cheering faith that time shall reach their needs. 


God always has, and always will do all he can for man, 
All ills are but contingencies cohesive with the plan. 


All evil hath its cure, no doubt, in nature’s onward move, 
Or else existence is a curse, it were not hard to prove. 


Rejoice, then, all ye suff ring ones, conditions soon shall change, 
And turn your sorrows all to joys; life has eternal range. 


No night so dark but hath its morn, no day without some night ; 
Then bravely breast the fated storm and hope with all your might. 





i Rough Shod Rhyme. 19 


Are all Men Free and Equal? 


The declaration says all men are free and equal born, 
But I deny, and ask the proof, I take the other horn. 


Men are not free nor equal born in either brains or brass, 
Their differing constitutions must forever gender class. 


But those who have not brains enough to see their true relation 
To all the rest of humankind, must be of low creation. 


For high or low, dependent still the one upon the other, 


There must be constant interchange of high and low forever. 


None are so high they need be proud, there’s chance to be much, 
higher, 
And those rise best who lend a hand to help a weaker brother:. 


The teaching power would lose all zest were all upon one plane,, 
And life would but stagnation be were nothing left to gain, 


So climb away with all your might, but never spurn the ju 

Tor if you do you'll prove yourself a brassy thing most surely.. 
The straight pursuit of happiness belongs to high and low, 

And but for birth and circumstance there’d be no chance to: crow.. 


Still, as it is, there’s due no blame for being lowly bred, 
By that same rule there’s due no praise for noble birth instead: 


Who does the best he can does well, the best can do no better,, 
And but for birth and circumstance we’re equal to the letter.. 


But what a dower he inherits who has been nobly born, 
And what a mortgage on one’s peace to have a birth forlorn. 
Ah me! if women only knew their power to bless or blast, 
They’d study more on motherhood and breed a better cast. 


Shall all germs else be cultured well with prudence and with care ?’ 


Shall colts and calves and pigs and pups the best attention share ? 


While searce a thought is well bestowed upon the human germ,?: 
O! what outrageous stupidness! O! what a blasting shame !: 


O! mothers, do not fail to give your unborn child a chance 
To germ itself in holy love; for thus comes all advance. 


Is Man entirely Selfish? 


Man’s nothing but pure e selfishness, all through, from end’ to end;- 
And he'll be selfish, too, for aye, whate’er he may pretend. 


But there’s a dual selfishness, one low, the other high ; 
The one breeds scorn, the other praise, and here’s the reason why =: 


20 Common Sense Theology 


Selfishness low comes of the flesh, selfishness high of the spirit ; 
Selfishness low cares nought for right, selfishness high doth re- 
vere it. 7 
Selfishness low, in its folly, oft sickens digestion with taste ; 
Selfishnesss high, in its wisdom, would sooner be keeping a fast. 


Selfishness low will overdo to hoard up cank’ring gain ; 
Selfishness high would sooner try to fill an empty brain. 


Selfishness low is bent upon mere present gratification 5 
Selfishness high would self-deny for future exaltation. 


“Ts not the bump Benevolence unselfish in its action?” 
No, no, it brings a rich reward — uncommon satisfaction. 
Men talk about self-sacrifice — self-abnegation, too — 
As though it were unselfishness which prompted what they do. 


But self-sacrifice in virtue’s path is only self-protection, 
Well prompted by the higher self to save from degradation. 


Whoe’er would save his life by sin takes just the course to lose it ; 
Whao loses life in virtue’s cause, in fulness soon shall find it. 


This must be what the good man meant who talked upon the Mount, 
His higher self had prime control, he drank from wisdom’s fount. 


‘He looked ahead, he saw that life ran on beyond the tomb, { fume. 
And that good deeds while here would yield o’er there a rich per- 


‘The higher selfishness of Christ led him to Calvary’s cross : 
-He’d sooner lose his mortal life than suffer moral loss. 


In consequence he reigns to-day the Christian’s human God, 
Self-sacrifice exalted him to be the planet’s Lord. 


Like Moses, he would sooner choose to suffer with God’s people, 
‘Than to enjoy a sinful reign and be a moral cripple. 


-No man can seek another’s good ’thout seeking, too, his own; 
Who plans to save another’s soul adds stars unto his crown. 


‘Christ’s gospel all is founded on God’s judgments and rewards, 
-A straight appeal to selfishness his gospel well affords. 


Christ may have thought God’s judgments come through courts 
of high appeal, 
But compensation comes through law ; we plainly see its deal. 


So long as man has will to act so long his deeds must tell, 
Who never curbs his lower self can never hear “done well.” 


Man’s higher self can ne'er approve injustice anywhere, 
Hence judgment is enthroned within, and all get sentence there. 


Man ne’er shall come to any bar less than eternal fitness, 
Omniscient and unchanging law must be man’s judge and witness. 





& 
“ed 
. 
“ 
dl 
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4 
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in Rough Shod Rhyme. we ay 


Man’s lower self is prone to think ’tis might that makes the right, 
Man’s higher self distinctly sees ‘tis right that makes the might. 


The diff’rence then betwixt the two, high selfishness and low, 
Is that betwixt shortsightedness and wisdom’s reach clear through. 


Man’s conscience stands betwixt the two, and prompts the fittest 
action. 
Who heeds it is the wisest man, and gets the least distraction. 


Come, then, all ye low-bred men, let selfishness be higher, 
*T will double all your dividends and keep you from the fire. 


There’s no mistake, ’tis well to climb from lower self to high, 
The prospect is so much improved you will not fear to die. 


Nature rejoices in Man’s Existence, and mnultiplies as fast as 
she can. 


Tis nature’s aim where’er she can to gender human souls, 
And when conditions will allow a Jesus she unfolds. 


But if conditions won't admit a being good and pure, [ cure. 
She'll do the next best thing she can — start sick, then heal and 


For all the diff’rence nature knows betwixt the high and low, 
Is just the time that is required for weakly ones to grow. 


Hence, if conditions dad put forth the germinating call, 
Tis better far to start in /el/ than not to start. at all. 


Existence is the richest boon that nature can bestow, 
And if in some ’tis feeble, there’s chance enough to grow. 


Man has a whole eternity to learn what he don’t know,, 
And though he learn but slowly, still onward he must go. 


Existence, though it do begin way down to zero’s mark, 


Is still a gem of priceless worth, a never-dying spark, 
Which by progression’s ready aid will measure heights unknown, 
And revel in elysian fields where devils never frown. 


What though long ages pass before true wisdom gets gontrol? 
Why then a long eternity remains to garnish up the soul. 


‘Tis not so much what now we are as what we may become, 
God reckons on the growth of man, eternity gives room, 


And if our chance be very hard, and victory be won, 
Then heaven may chant, in loudest strains, “ Well done,” brave 
soul, “well done ! ” 


If progress be the innate law of human nature here, 
It is a law forever, then, so do not doubt or fear. 


22 7 Common Sense Theology 


Hence if some parents have a child that does not seem to promise, 
Let them not mourn despondingly — Pat. Henry was a novice ; 


In his younger days, ’tis said, a very gawky lad, 
But by and by the tongue was loosed that made a nation glad. 


’Tis hard to tell whose chance is best by what we see to-day, 
The clown or dunce may have the germ of royalty and sway, 


And needs but time and circumstance to bring him into note ; 
Then those who scorn and hiss to-day may cast for him their vote. 


Some learn by intuition that which others get from books ; 
Let none despise another for their gumption or their looks. 


Some grow up very rapidly, in body and in mind, 
Whilst others, growing slowly, are ‘well toughened by the wind, 


So don’t despise, nor laugh, nor scorn, for you can’t tell who’s who, 

And if you could, to scorn ain’t wise; why differs he from you? 

You never made yourself, my friend, then why should you be 
proud? 

And if you've only what’s been given, what right have you to crowd ? 


Derision is a blazing sign of weakness on your part, [ heart. 
No matter what your outside show, there’s something wrong at. 


Happiness—Present and Future —the Legitimate End of att 
Pursuit, and Wisdom to gain it— the One Thing Needful. 


If you're alive and happy, man, rejoice! make others so ; 
If not happy, ask the why, and shun the cause of woe. 


For happiness is the end and aim of every living man ; 
To get it all are purposing in every act and plan. 

For happiness we all hands yearn, to seek it is our right, 
- And for it every rebel strives, whether he pray or fight. 


Hence man’s desire for happiness directs his every act ; 
He may often fail to get it, but that don’t change the fact, 


That he is ever seeking it with all his wisdom’s might, 
The reason he don’t get it is, he lacks for wisdom’s light. 


Now wisdom is the principal thing, as wise old Solomon said, 
And if we’ve but enough of it, by sin we won’t be led. 


Convince aman that any course will bring him nought but sorrow, 
He’ll shun it as the rattlesnake; misery none will borrow. 


Let man but see his interest in duty’s honest claim, 
He'll do the right most willingly, though Devil be his name. 





ee ee ee 





in Rough Shod Rhyme. : ay 23 


Man needs no goad to honest deeds when he discovers this, 
That good for good and bad for bad no deed of his can miss. 


But if he lack for wisdom’s eyes to see the effect of sin, 
Why all the thunders of the pulpit to reform him won't begin. 


Experience is the real source from which all knowledge flows : 

It is the world’s great schoolmaster, as all past history shows. 
But ’tis sometimes a dear-bought school, so. says the wise man gone, 
Yet fools can’t learn without it, they’re so unwisely born. 
Hence such must eat forbidden fruit until their eyes are opened ; 
They cannot act the wise man’s part until their wits are sharpened. 
Some men learn the first time trying, because they’re wisely made, 
Some try it o’er and o’er again before they learn the trade. 


Yet none so badly out of fix we may not hope for them, 
God’s laws will surely frictionize until it reach the gem. 


*Tis folly, then, that makes men sin, wisdom wouldn’t allow it; 
Never did man one foolish deed who’s wise enough to shun it. 


Would foolish bargains e’er be made by any selfish man 
Who’d power to comprehend his acts when laying out the plan? 


Will not all men then seek the right, nor sin another day, 
When they shall clearly see that none but righteous actions pay? 


Now he who cheats his fellow-man too dearly buys his pelf, 
Who tramples on another’s rights but doubly cheats himself. 


For Nature never lets her rascals get less than they deserve, 
But honestly gives them their due without the least reserve. 


She pays the bad, as well as good, for none can hide away, 
For every wrongful action, too, she gives the rightful pay. 

But whether now, or some time hence, depends upon the deed ; 
Some laws are slowly active, but surely they proceed. | 


Those, then, who wish for happiness, need but remember this: 
Heed well the laws of life and right, then nohow can you miss. 
For every organ in man’s brain is in itself the source 
Of pure and solid happiness, when rightly used, of course. 
Hence man’s whole sum of happiness is in direct proportion 
To the number of his faculties he keeps in good condition. 


Some people do not cultivate one-tenth of all their mind, 
Hence get but little happiness, they’re mentally so blind. 


Some people own a great nice house, but live in an outer room; 
Some get but little good of life for thinking of the tomb. 


Some people so one-sided are in thought and education, 
Touch but their idol and they sink in hopeless desperation. 


24 Common Sense Theology 





Some live much in the upper brain, some only in the lower ; 
Some in the front, some in the back, some few in all the four. 4 
; 


Such live joyful, happy lives, well rounded, plump and full; 
Their bow has many strings attached, on either they can pall. 


‘Starvation and intemperance alike curtail the sum, 
Hence reason and experience ought never to be dumb. , 
Their voices should he listened to with undisturbed attention, | é 


Whole pounds of pain may not suffice for ounces of prevention. 


Man’s wisdom is that faculty which takes a look ahead, , 3 
And saves the coming future from sorrow, shame and dread. ‘4 


Intemp’rance will but foil the man who tries to cheat dame Nature, 
And get an extra cup of bliss: she’ll doubly charge the future. 


So please remember this great fact: the sources of man’s joy 
Are equal to his faculties, give all their due employ. 


The thrifty farmer takes his spade and drains his bogs and marshes, 
And makes them swell his harvest stores —redeem your wasted 
places. 


God cannot here, nor after here, keep happy any soul 
Who does not rightly use his powers, or live in self-control. 


“The one thing needful” then is this: more knowledge of God’s 
laws, 


More honesty in search for truth, less hunt for golden straws. 


Let all who seek for happiness obey the laws of life, 
No other way can mortals hope to end eternal strife. 


OQ! if our pulpits only would teach men the laws of being, 
Instead of harping on their creeds, how devils would be fleeing. 


They seem to:be afraid to let the God in nature speak, 
Lest he confound their Babel tongues and prove past logic weak. 


‘Twas this that made the Pharisees so bitterly opposed 
To Christian innovation — their weakness it disclosed. 


But ah! what folly ’tis to stand in God Almighty’s way ; 
Our modern priests need more reform than did they of Christ’s day. 


And if they do not hear the cry, “Up, get ye out of this,” 
They'll stand like groaning copperheads, at whom’the loyal hiss. 


Self-control and Honesty —the Groundwork of Happiness. . 
‘Tis nature’s aim to perfect man, his suffering destroy, : 
To build in him a sinless heaven forever to enjoy. 


In order to accomplish this, she urges self-control ; . 
By hook or by crook you must learn this, or else in misery roll. 





in Rough Shod Rhyme. | 25 


> 


* Be ye perfect,” saith the teacher, “even as your father Is” ; 
Let your motives all be honest, if you would be wholly his. 


No perfection but in motive can a mortal hope to gain; —[ mean. 
That would make an end to progress — that the Teacher could not 


But perfection in one’s motives can be reached by every soul — 
Tis the royal road to heaven: Jesus walked it, paid the toll. 


The noblest work of God, ’tis said, is the man that’s strictly hon- 
And he who’s ever been betrayed will credit this the soonest. [est ; 


No man has grounds for any hope of reaching manhood’s sphere, 
Until he strive with honest heart to keep his conscience clear. 


Man’s duty and man’s interest forever interblend ; 
Let no one think to separate what God has truly joined. 


As well to try to leave one’s self, go journeys without start, 
As hope for much of happiness ’thout honesty of heart ; 


An honesty, too, which reaches more than outward acts with men ; 
It touches all the springs of life, and makes one’s motives clean. 


That still small voice within the soul is but the voice of God; 
Who heeds it not is recreant, and needs the Master's rod. 


Who heeds it not must-go-to-hell, the place for sinful cure, 
And suffer there until he learn to keep his conscience pure. 


To conquer sin within ourselves is the great end of life ; 
Who has not done it should not dare to quit the field of strife. 


Who has not done is not fit to scold his fellow-men, 
_ For sinners rarely cast out sin, not one perhaps in ten. 


To pluck out motes while beams obstruct, is meagre business, sure ; 
To cast out sin with much success, the castor must be pure. 


No man can talk with much effect whose life ain’t in his speech, 
For men discern instinctively one’s honest right to preach. 


Can a man well talk on temperance with tobacco in his check ? 
Can a man well preach on Sunday who shams it all the week ? 


Heal thou thyself, physician, first, before you try to cure: 
Your tongue should wag in honesty, your medicine be pure. 


No man can rise above his level, in haughty, shammy show, 
Without a fall which takes him down in justice far below. 
Don’t rise one step till you are sure the step is fairly won ; 

Then heaven nor hell can topple you, the thing is rightly done. 


Remember this, ’twill net be long before you'll have to sell 
For what and only what you're worth; ’tis better not to swell. 


Ah me! were all men honest in whatever they might do, 
Heaven would come, in double quick, and earth be born anew. 


26 Common Sense Theology 


Then war, and want, and woe would cease, and none would need 


to say, } 
“ Ye must be born again, poor souls,” for sin would flee away. 


Let no man heed that specious lie which some of late have taught, 
That “to conquer sin you should go in and wear the devil ont.” 


“Tf you feel to swear, why swear away, and so with lust and lies, 
If you feel to drink, why drink ye drunk, to-morrow you will rise.” 


Such teachers are not honest men, and they are bound to hell, 
They hate the narrow way, because they do not walk it well; 


And so they seek to justify their own perverted way, 
By that vilest of philosophies, that sin don’t lead astray. 


Now let us show the fallacy of this insidious lie, 
And guard you ’gainst such treachery unless you wish to die. 


Every organ in man’s brain grows stronger by its action ; 
Now, while the basic organs rule, what chance for much per fection’ 2 


Do not bad habits oft become a kind of second nature ? — 
Which, like an incrustation, must be overcome in future ? 


Good habits help the soul to rise, strengthen the spiritual will ; 
So when the stormy passions rise, ’twill ery out “ Peace, be still!” 


A righteous will will hold in check each blind propensity, 
Until the higher faculties gain superior capacity. 


Then lower ones, good in themselves, can be rightly trained ; 
But those who let them take the lead wilfget their spirits maimed. 


Conditions, good or bad, inhere with all of human life, 
And rapid progress can’t be made ’thout much of manly strife. 


He's not aise man who forgets to watch as well as pray, 
The tide of life both ebbs and flows, there’s night as well as day. 


temember, therefore, that conditions help or hinder much, 
So if you wait for nature’s gait, you'll hobble on a erutch. 


Youll get there, though, no doubt of that, sin’s crust will swash 
away, i 
And from hell all dripping you'll come out with purpose not to stray. 


3ut youll lose time, you can’t make up, through all your beings 
round, 

And get those sears which will proclaim you have been quite un- 
sound. 


~~. 


IT know that sin will kill itself, but never short of hell. 
Whoever follows in its lead can never hear “ don2 well.” 
What praise, think you, can that man claim, whom nature saves 


alone? m, 
Who lives and lists right on to hell, where burning fires atone? 

















in Rough Shod Rhyme. Ngee 


How much more manly is the man who says, “I will not sin. 
Get thee behind me, Satan, quick ! a conquerer’s crown I'd win.” 


The all of blame, and the all of praise, are based upon the ground 
That watchfulness and wilfulness may keep the heart quite sound. 


"Tis quite enough, sometimes, to make my intuitions wonder, 

To see men rush with untamed wills right on to “grief and thun- 
der.” 
The Human Will! What potency for good as well as ill! 

It speeds man on to perfect bliss or rushes him to hell. 


Let none believe he may be fated against his will to sin, 
For without will all virtue dies, and sin could ne’er begin. 


’Tis with the will that conscience strives and judges every act, 
So when you feel compunction know, that will’s a mighty fact. 


Man ne’er was fated morally, against his will’s consent, 


"To do what gave compunction ; sin comes, but of intent. 


Sin is the consenting to do what conscience says ain’t right ; 
No matter if the thing be true, ’twont palliate a mite. 


No matter if the thing be wrong and the sinner thinks ’tis right, 
He’ll be a sinner till he does it, or gets a better light. 


Let none helieve that God’s so good he’ll save men in their sius, 
For justice shouting all the while, says “ nought but virtue wins.” 


So we'd better heed our conscience and cultivate our will, 
To the love of righteous doing, and keep our passions still. 


Aye, let them die for want of will to circulate their blood, 
All living things, to flourish well, must have supply of food. 


When we have doubt where two ways meet, which one is near- 
est right, 
We should not move till we have sought in honesty for light ; 


Because the soul’s integrity outweighs all earthly plans, 
This jewel which outshines the sun with the Eternal stands. 


How many weary tramps we'd save, how many pitfalls shun, 
Should we adopt a rule like this — from duty never run. 


If our eye be single, straight, and true, we shall be full of light ; 
But an evil eye will bring us nought but darkness, death and night. 


The uncontrolled propensity of heads too full at the base, 


-Is quite a match for all the devil that ever cursed the race. 


It is enough to make a hell as hot as need to be, 
To melt your dross, at last, no doubt, and Iet your soul go free. 


Yet Christ spake wisely when he said, “ You’d better pluck an eye, 
Cut off a hand, or e’en a foot, than in your sins to die.” 


28 Common Sense Theology 


’Tis not because he said it, though, but because ’tis true ; 
Bodily sears are transient things, do not the grave pass throurh 

Mg res) Ss Se 
But spirit scars may last an age, and shame you all the while; 

] oOo “ 5) 
It is no trifle, mark it well, the spirit to defile. | 
* Then up,” says Virtue, “lift your robes out of the dirty mire 

I 9 y . 9 y 5 2 

And tread the path of purity ; come ye, come up higher.” 


There ne’er can much of happiness come to the human heart, 
Until the higher faculties shall take the leading part. 


Natural and Spiritual Laws, with their Rewards and Penaiiies, 
are Man’s Great Tutor and Compensator. 


Law being the mode of nature’s works, the bent of Deity’s mind, 
The channel that God’s tho’ts run in, ’tis man’s this mode to find. 


For through it comes man’s destiny, and whether bad or good, 
Depends upon his heeding it — as rightfully it should. 


The fruits of law’s obedience are life and health and joy— 
Are wisdom, love, and happiness — and peace without ailoy. 


But good laws all have penalties which he who breaks must catch, 
Hence those who lay their eggs in vice, in misery must hatch. 


If any one discredits me just do as I advise — 
Go thrust your hand into the fire, and see if I disguise. 


Go climb to yonder tree-top, then jump and try to fly — 
Youw’re just as sure to catch a fall, as gravity won't lie. 


Go overdo your physical frame, and while in perspiration, 
Sit down in some cool draft — get cold ; then ask for justification. 


Go off to sea in a leaky ship, then pray to be protected — 

You'll sink in spite of all your prayers if pumps be well neglected. 
By faith, go walk upon the water, as Peter thought to do, 

And as Peter got a wetting, the same ’twill be with you, 


Unless.you’ve faith like Jesus — and purity to match — 
A life so pegged with uses that angel cords attach, 


Then, nature’s laws may be o’ercome by spirit, sometimes stronzer, 
And you may float above the wave ’thout fear of going under. 


But until then you'd better keep in harmony with law — 
“ Agree with thine adversary ” — keep out the lion’s paw. 


Go tip the wine-cup till your drunk, but lose your locomotion, 
And with it lose your self-respect —and more, your reputation. 


(xo tell your lies and then confirm with vulgar ugly oaths — 
But lose your credit and your name, and that won’tend your woes. 











in Rough Shod Rhyme. 89 


‘ 


Go steal away to Virtue’s bed, and rob her of its treasure, 
But take ye blasted Virtue’s curse, most terrible in measure. 


Go sate your lust in brothel hells, where lewdness reigns untamed, 
But get diseases worse than death, that need not here be named. 


And furthermore, get guilty spots upon your's spirit’s face, 
Which, Cain-like, will proclaim to all you’ve run a crooked race. 


Go shed a brother’s blood for gold, then skulk with bloody knife, 
The curse of Cain will follow you and poison all your life. 


Go tell some maid ye love her, and wish her for a wife, 
And then seduce and leave her — fleeing for your life! 


You'll catch it o’er the river if you do not get it here, 
For Justice spots her subjects — she’ll know you over there. 


She counts the maiden’s groanings — she bottles all her tears, 
And she may deal you double for all her sighs and fears. 


What matter where the bar may be to which the world is cited? 
Though here, or in eternity, each wrong must yet be righted. 


Aye, every human consciousness must pay its own accounts ; 


_ True compensation is a law which suffers no affronts. 


There is no bankrupt law for sin, though countless pulpits teach it, 
No limitation act steps in though Paul, himself, might preach it. 


“For ages though the time’s delayed, 


Each moral debt must once be paid.” 
When man can tread on burning coals, and never scorch his feet 
5 o 9 
Then he may break God’s righteous laws and penalty not meet. 
ws g 


If not just now, ’twill surely come, all causes have effects — 
God’s throne in justice cannot stand, while sznners he elects. 


Vile sinners may repent and pay, and thus get out of hell, _ [tell. 
But woe to those who cramp men’s souls, their doom ’tis hard to 


* Woe unto you ye hypocrites,” said Jesus, long ago — 


Because he saw their bent of mind would surely lead to woe. 


There’s no escape, poor Pharisee, poor Scribe, there’s none for you, 
Your roguish deeds all book themselves, and they will put you 


through. 


God’s laws will never spare the rod — ’twould spoil the growing 


child — wild. : 
No whining prayers can bribe the law — the thought is weak and 


There is no scape-goat, reason says, on which to pack our sins — 
Nought but reform can give relief to any sinful pains. 


Still, all who sin are prompted by crude forces in their nature, 
And, for those sins come penalties to change them for the better. 


30 Common Sense Theology 


Law’s penalties were all designed to lead man to reform — | 

Else, where’s God’s goodness? Doomers, tell! Away your thun- 
dering storm. 

There’s ne’er a crime against God’s laws that gives 2 doom eternal, 

For if there were ’twould make God out a being quite infernal. 

And every priest who teaches it is but an ignoramus, 

Or worse than that, a Pharisee, whose righteousness 1s famous. 

Or else he’s bound by creedish thongs to what the fathers said ; 

Regardless of these living times he stalks among the dead. 


There let him be till Gabriel’s trump shall wake him into nee 


And then he’ll learn that heaven comes alone through manly strife. 


God rules and governs but by laws, and laws inherent, too ; 


All other laws are man-made laws, and, ten to one, untrue. 


God dickers not — nor steps aside to please one single soul — 
How can a universal God but represent the whole? 


God never hears one single prayer that’s out of joint with law — 
To him no faith but lawful faith is worth a single straw. 


* But there’s the murd’rer and thief, the liar and his crew— [do?” _ 


When death o’ertakes and sends them on what will these rebels 


Unless the laws of being change, and that we can’t expect, 
For mind is mind eternally in every respect, 


Unless death fossilizes, and stops the growth of man, 

Or completely annihilates and rules him out, why then 

They’ll do what sinners always have — repent and change their 
course — | 

Or still continue sinning on, and thus grow worse and worse, 


Till by and by they’ll find a place so ho¢ ’twill melt the dross, 
And then they’ll turn like prodigals, and hunt for father’s house. 


All evil hath its cure, no doubt, in nature’s onward move, 
Or else existence is a curse it were not hard to prove. 


And this great cure will come as fast as man gets growth in wis- 


In that same ratio he’ll attain unto the sphere of freedom. [dom; 


What is True Religion ? 


What's true religion but true Manhood? all our powers in good 
attune ? 


Then every action is devotion — like singing of the birds in June. . 


True religion knows no priesthood, follows reason day and night, 
Calls no man master, spurns all creed, hears no command, sive 
this— Do right. 





in Lough Shod Ehyme. 31 


And if ye’d know what is the right ask your reason, not your pope, 
Thy Ged within, if sought unto, witb every sin will cope. 


Every soul is germed with goodness, without it man’s not man; 
If you would find it, probe the soul, ’tis in the Deity’s plan. 


In some ’tis covered up so deep you'd hardly think ’twas there, 
But dig away ancestral sins, the diamond you'll lay bire. 

Now let the rain of brotherly kindness soften and water the earth, 
And the heat of love’s bright sunshine shall set it springing forth. 


The organ Veneration exists in greater or less degree 
In men ie every nation, Black or White, Bond or Free. 


And so with Hope and Conscience, also Spirituality, 
Yea, all have some Benevolence, with Intellectuality. 


Now, what is needed but the motion of these elements. within ? 
And when they work in harmony, why heaven must begin. 


And did our priests but touch aright the keys to human hearts, 
- We’d have the music of the spheres ere man for them departs. 
But as the priests don’t know themselves, how can they teach man- 


kind? [ friend. 
They’re “mischief-makers” ’tween our souls and nature’s God, our 


As well have enmity between the trees and nature's sun, 
As ’tween our souls and nature’s God, but for the Evil One. 


_ And he gets all his power from priests, of them he’s born and bred, 
Through him the love of God is crushed by constant fear and dread. 


Were Satan dead and hell shut up we’d love God, old and young, 
And praise to him would surely rise from every lip and tongue. 


There’ll be no cross for men to bear when true religion rules, 
Tis the unnaturalness of creeds which makes religious tools. 


We'll worship with as much of ease as we shake hands with friends, 
Whea man is rightly understood, and God with nature blends. 


As easy as one eats or sleeps, or reads a pleasant book, 
So easy then we'll worship God, and in the future look. 


This glorious time is coming on by man’s progression driven, 
But for old fogies, creeds and trash, we'd find it had arriven. 


True religion zs true manhood, all our powers in good attune ; 
Then every action is devotion, like singing of the birds in June. 





32 | Common Sense Theology 


Who is the Wise Man? 
Who is the wise man? Is it he who fills his coffers full 
Of greenbacks, gold and mortgages, to guard his earth-life well? 


Is it he, who, Solomon-like, fills all his senses full. 
Of passional life, and then cries out, “ Vexation! O how dull!” 


Or is it he who labors hard for great historic lore, 
Who penetrates the ages past for knowledge hid of yore? 


Or is it he who learns to speak a hundred different tongues, 
Who tours the globe and tells you where each dialect belongs ? 


Or is-it he who calculates, by astronomic rules, 
The distance, weight, and magnitude of comets, suns, and worlds? 


Or is it he who penetrates the bowels of the earth, 
And finds strange fossils, which proclaim his geologic worth? 


Or is it he who trains himself to lift two thousand pounds, 
Or hit a target half a mile at ten successive rounds? 


Or is it he who climbs a throne to wield a sceptre there, 
To deck himself in tinsel robes and live in courtly glare? — 


Or is it he who seeks renown in awful daring mood, 
Who, Booth-like, shoots an Abraham to ring his praise abroad? 


Or is it he who doth aspire to lead an armed host, 
To carve his name in history like Ceesar’s of the past? 


Nay, none of these are wise men, according to the rule 
Which comprehends an endless life in wisdom’s higher school. 


He’s the wise man who doth strive with all his might and main 
Lo get the mastry of himself, and rounded manhood gain. 


For without this it matters not how great in other ways, 
*Thout self-control and harmony the De’il with manhood plays. 


Greater is he who ruleth well his own rebellious spirit, 
Than he who takes a city in arms and gets but warrior’s merit. 


Man’s present and man’s future joy on this one thing depends: 
Self-poise, with manly growth of soul, herewith all virtue blends. 


He is but foolish who doth fail to make the most of JZ; 
Soul-gain, self-gain is all the gain that is not doomed to die. 


Who is the Fortunate Man? 
If fortune were a living thing we’d liken it to this: 
A freaky bird of plumage gay which marksmen mostly miss. 


Sometimes in reckless haste she’ll fly directly in one’s face, 
And then, again, she’s shy’s a fox —who catches must give chase. 








in Rough Shod Rhyme. 33 


Sometimes she lights upon the man who has enough already, 
Then flies away without a sigh from the helpless needy. 


Sometimes she lights near by one’s door, so tame you'd think she’s 
But while you fix to make secure, she flies—away she soars. [ yours, 


Sometimes the fowler sets his snare with every hope to catch, 
But while he waits Fate springs the net, and so his chicks don’t 
hatch. 


Sometimes unsought, undsked, she comes, just like a friendly 
guest, | , 
Lays golden eggs and hatches them —with chickens you are blest. 


Sometimes, with prayers and earnestness, she’s labored for and 
sought, 
But she dbutt pity, seemingly, at least, she won’t be caught. 


Sometimes by some base stratagem she is unfairly caught, 
But she refuses long to stay, though earnestly besought. 


And when she goes she leaves you worse than before you caught 

her, ter. 
To catch you bartered off the wife, and now she takes the daugh- 
Sometimes she comes and stops awhile, and flatters all one’s pride,. 
Then out she glides, and down you drop, on poverty’s back to ride. 


Sometimes the parents work like sin to give idle Joe a start, 
But when young Jehu gets the reins, then over goes the cart. 


Sometimes the suitor thinks to get a fortune with his wife, 
But finds at length he’s only got the torment of his life. 


Sometimes the maiden thinks she can convert a drunken suitor, 
And marries him to get his gold, and gets a mess of pewter. 


Sometimes the miser saves his gains and hoards them all away, 
Torments himself with fears by night and anxious toils by day ; 


But by and by death comes to rob, takes everything he’s got, 
His heirs rejoice —* He’s dead at last ”—and hand him down to rot. 


Now when he wakes on t’ other side how lonesome he must be, 
No gold, no silver, not a friend — unfortunate man was he. 


Fortune favors the brave, ’tis said, but ’tis not so with all, 
For many a brave has died in rags — to fortune he’d no call; 


Whilst many a stupid, lazy lout has had his arms filled full, 
And that, too, while so indolent the snare he would not pull. 


If fortune favors, bless the poor; ’twill make your soul expand, 
Then when thou diest hearts will throb, and angels take thy hand, 


And say, “Come up, thou righteous doer, thy deeds have come 
A starry crown of blessedness for thee we have in store.” [ before, 


3 


34 Common Sense Theology 


If fortune shuns you, be content, it may be for the hosts 
"Twill not be long, though rich or poor, ere in the grave you rest. 


There, be assured, no mortal will be measured by the purse, — 
But great possessions not well-used, may enter there to curse. 


So be content, pray Agur’s prayer, rest on thy Maker’s arm, 
Then, rich or poor, you will be blest ; there none can do you harm 


Let all remember, Wisdom rules by day as well as night; 
Pope told much truth when he declared, “ Whatever is, is right.” 


I’d say the same with this affix: Is right as it can be, 
Till God has had more time and chance to better it, you see. 


’Tis plain, conditions always must determine what shall be, 
He’s fortunate in widest sense who can from sin keep free. 


Good fortune comes alone to him who grows in moral worth, 
‘He’s richest who shows longest lines of progress from his birth. 


He only lays up treasures where no moth or rust can reach, 
All other gains are sure to fail, as did the Teacher teach. 


Who is the Neighbor ? 
‘Who is the neighbor? Is it he who pays you all you lend? 
Who, when you do a kindly act, returns it like a friend? 


Is it he, who, though poor, yet good, accepts your favors well, 
And promises with grateful heart to make your praises swell? » 


Is.it he, who, ignorant of the finer, better feelings, _—_[ stealings ?. 
‘Would take your gifts as so much gain, the same as thieves their 


Js it he who has sunk so low in beastly self-abuse, 
He meets your efforts to relieve with a drunkard’s senseless curse ? 


Is it she whom want and lust have driven near to hell? 
Who laughs at you for proffered aid, and scorns your virtue well? 


dye, all of these are neighbors, and others too Ill mention ; 
Thine enemy — the worst one yet — he greatly needs attention. 


And can there be another? one harder s¢zdl to bless? 
Aye, he’s the man thou’st injured, sir: to him thou must confess. 


When Does Man’s Probation End ? 
’Tis loudly taught by some divines that all improvement ceases 
As soon as mortals take the boat which over Jordan crosses ; 


But let us see how this accords with higher law and reason ; 
It may be found a pious fraud, or worse, impious treason. 








in Lough Shod Rhyme. 35 


While man has love for happiness, while good deeds have 
reward, [ Lord. 
While conscience has a home with man, there’s chance to seek the 


While sin doth lead to sorrow, while mortals can keep sane, 
While virtue gets renown from vice, no mortal seeks in vain. 


While aspiration dwells with men, no matter where they roam, 
No hell can hold a single soul that longs for a holier home. 


While cause shall have its due effect, while man has power to will, 
While God controls by righteous law, there’s chance for progress 
still. 


While man is man forevermore, and God is God the same, 

To end reform with this short life were folly in extreme. 
“There’s no repentance in the grave,” shouts the limitarian ; 

Then man must cease to be himself — accept ye this position ? 





Then law has nought beyond the grave to do with man’s unfolding, 
Death fixes him in heaven or hell, a fossil, time unending. 


What disproportion in your time allotted for reform, 
Compared with that eternity where mercy has no home! 


This life! ’tis but the A BC of countless volumes there ; 
Ere man has learned his letters well, you fix him in despair ! 


This life! ’tis but a breath compared with infinite duration ! 
A unit in the balance with unending computation. 


This life! ’tis but the nursery, the place of germination ; 
Here, souls take on identity ; there, growth ‘thout limitation. 


What though the child be wayward born; aye, reckless for a 
The chastisements of endless love will rectify his bile, | while ? 


And tone him up to manliness, so he, like Tarsus Saul, 
When broken to God’s harness, shall become the mighty Paul. 


The Lord has time to unfold man, and certainly he’ll do it; 
He takes delight in growing men, forever he’ll pursue it. 


That great injunction, “Grow in grace,” belongs to all existence ; 
You selfish saints curtail the term, youll need some grave re- 
peutance, 


Before you'll reach that sinless place where progress has an end, 
Where growth in grace shall swell all hearts with pity for the fiend, 
With love for all whom fate hath cast in hard uneven mould, 
Who need perhaps a thousand years to rub their dross from gold. 


O! if God’s mercy don’t extend beyond this mortal life, 
He’s but an insignificant God, except it be in strife. 


36 Common Sense Theology 


© 


Tf God has any attribute not in itself eternal, 
Then mercy may in him die out and leave him quite infernal ! 


Ye saints forget that God is love, and love eternal, too, 
And will in time all sin destroy and bring the sinner through. 


Though ages pass before he can in ripeness gather some, 
Yet he through faithful law shall work until the vilest come. 


To save the ood, and them alone, were but an easy thing ; 
He’ll conquer every grade of guilt, make hell his praises ring. 


The Record says, he’ll conquer not only death and hell, 
But rob the grave of victory —think you ’tis written well? 


If every knee shall bow to him, and every tongue confess, 
O! tell us, pray, who’s left behind to wallow in distress ? 


Does simple power give man the right to act the brutal part? 
Or does it give the call to show a kinder, better heart? 


Shall God then act revengefully because enthroned above ? 
Or shall he reign a pattern there of mercy, truth, and love? 


Shall man be taught to curb his wrath, and render good for evil, 
While God’s allowed to whet his ire and send men to the devil? 


Where’er repentance reaches man, there love pours in her oil, 
Forever softening stony hearts and making richer soil. 
God never lets his chances slip, sees every open door, 
And walks right in as Jesus did, “ How are you sinner — poor? 
If so, I'll make you rich in faith; believe me, and be good. 
I cannot aid you till you get into a humble mood. 
Men think me haughty, hard to reach, because I am a God, 
They judge me by themselves, no doubt; Z shake no tyrants rod. 
Iam rejoiced whene’er I see the pgnitential tear, 
And shall be till the last repents, no humble soul need fear.” 
God’s gracious Jesus did not try to call the righteous home, 
The dutiful were his before — the prodigal must come. _ 
If Christ could seek the publican, and harlot, too, to bless, 
Will goodness in the other life be after doing less? 


And what shall goodness find to do through all eternity’s round, 
If sinners all are locked in hell, away from sight and sound? 


What !—none to pity ?—none to aid? no chance for merciful deeds? 
The wicked all shut up in hell? —away, such merciless creeds ! 





"Twould cause rebellion in the ranks of heaven’s goodly host, 
And make them cry, “O, God! you’re hard! we love the sinner 
most!” | 











in Rough Shod Ehyme. 37 


Then down to hell in haste they’d fly, with merey in command, 
And shout this proclamation there —‘t Probation has no end!” 


Does Man’s Real Duty and Interest ever Conftict ? 


Maw’s real interest ne’er conflicts with any real duty, 
For duty is true interest — they blend in moral beauty. 


"Tis only with shortsighted men that ever they conflict ; 
Then policy, not principle, controls them when they act. 


That policy-men are quite unwise, it is not hard to show; 
They pay too dearly for their gains — I'll tell you why ’tis so. 


The sugar of to-day, ofttimes, is only gall to-morrow, 
And what gives pleasure now, mayhap, will end infdouble sorrow. 


We must not reckon for a day, but for all coming time ; 
Clean duty smiles approvingly in every age and clime. 
Now ev’ry act of will in man improves or hurts his soul ; 
Hence policy is foolishness, well proven by this rule. 


But O! how hard for ungrown men to realize the fact 
That duty would forever keep self-interest intact. 


Men, quite renowned, too often think ’tis policy that wins, 
And make some high profession stand a scapegoat for their sins. 


But wisdom says such policy is foolishness boiled down ; 
Long practice in that art will yield a most ignoble crown. 


A laughing-stock to well-bred souls, a shame to him who wears, 
Good evidence of sham within, this crop of well-sown tares. 


Now let us see how policy works in some of our professions, 
Where knaves have all the chance they want to cover their trans- 
gressions. 
The Lawyer’s duty counsels men to lead a peaceful life ; 
But blear-eyed policy urges him to stir up legal strife. 


If men don’t quarrel, how is he to get his bread and butter ?: 
And when they do he’s glad, of course, and straightway makes a 
flutter. 


He says, “ You are a fool to be trod on by any man,” 
And he’ll defend you if you will but tell him how things ran. 


And if yours be the unjust side, he’ll argue all the tighter 
To get an unjust judgment on the man who’s in the righter. 


His name for shrewdness must go out, or how is he to prosper? 
So right or wrong, tis all the same, he argues for the casher. 
He’s in no haste to close your case, but prays you to continue, 
For while your purse is plethoric, he thinks it best to bleed you. 


388 — Common Sense Theology 


He makes a show of legal lore in order to deceive you, 

And when he’s done, round charges will of greenbacks much 
relieve you. . 

With him, you see, ’tis policy from morning until night ; 

He calls it shrewdness, if he can but keep it out of sight. — 


The Doctor’s duty urges him to keep his patient well, 
But too much health, he sees at once, upon his purse must tell. 


So, when he’s called, he calculates what chance the case affords 
To swell his purse or give renown, hence ponders well his words. 


First, patient’s ails are magnified to make his presence needed ; 
There is great danger, to be sure, unless his counsel’s heeded. 


He knits his brayys and shakes his head — they should have called 
him sooner, 
But rather thinks he’ll undertake — you are not quite a goner. 


No matter if the sick are made a little trifle sicker, 
His conscience, with his purse, you see, is not allowed to dicker. 


He calculates about how much his patient well can bear, 
Then puts him through “the regular,” but urges best of care. 


And if, most like, he does not know what ails his trusting patient, 
He’s ready with experiments — ’twill swell the coming quotient. 


And if you make the least complaint that doses don’t agree, 
He'll look so wise, you'll feel ashamed, and think it ought to be. 


But if at last his patient dies, with too much doctor-dosing, _ 
He covers all with Providence — “ His time had come for going.” 


But still he charges just the same for killing as for cure, _[ sure. 
He “did his best ” — [to swell his purse] and that was right, for 


Our Ministers, quite often, too, act but the policy part, 
They prey upon the fears of men to reach their pursy heart, — 


Unless they’re where it pays the best to sugar-coat the truth, 
To please the rich old sinners there, who pay up well, forsooth. 


Their call to preach, most frequently, is but a business call, 
It does not come like fisherman’s — the schools have taught it all. 


Their godly calls from place to place must come through golden 
Unless the call’s a money call not one in ten can hear it. [trumpets, 


The’ll preach with zeal against the truth, to save their narrow 
creeds, 3 
And put blind faith away ahead of righteous works and deeds. 


They’re far more anxious for their creed than for the souls of men, 
They must not dare to step outside their “evangelical” pen. — 








in Rough Shod Rhyme. aro D 


These holy blund’rers, if attacked by common-sense and reason, 
Shout “ Jnfidei / ”— profound relief !— never out of season. 


They'll preach good neighbors straight to hell and never shed 
If they don’t join and pay up well —their calling is so clear. [tear, 
Their sanctimonious faces, so chilling to behold, 

Are painful signs of policy —a hunting after cold ; 


Or else an indication, far more dreadful to behold, 
Of faith in endless torments — to which they have been sold. 


Their chance for social perfidy so widened by their call, 

Church hist’ry says is well improved, though hist’ry tells not all. 
e ae * ° ° ’ 

The “dear, good sisters,” in their wards, while negative at heart, 

Are trained to cheer these pious priests and act the loving part. 

“Shew pity, Lord, O! Lord forgive” these sacred policy men; 

The plow and anvil give a call thou wouldst not have them shun’ 


All these professions thrive, you see, on other men’s misfortunes, 
Hence very few live honest lives, exposed to such temptations. 


The weak in morals are unwise to risk their honor there, 
And stronger ones will be o’ercome, ’thout constant, honest care. 


Discretion is that faculty which takes a look ahead, 
And saves the coming future life from sorrow, shame, and dread. 


* The wise man,” saith the Preacher, “ foreseeth the coming evil 
And hideth himself, but fools pass on” — and meet their Devil. 


How many great professionals who ride on policy fame, 
In soul life take a hobbling gait, they’re morally so lame. 

Ho! Lawyers! Doctors! Ministers! give ear unto this rhyme, 
Your moral peccadilloes, all, will “give you fits” in time. 
’T were better, far, to soil your hands, and dig to get a living, 
Than compromise your honesty for worldly, outside glossing! 
Aye, better beg with truthful tongue, than get much goid by lying, 
Whole lives of show will not offset your future shame ‘and scor ning! 


Don’t think your crimes of no account if not found out in doing, 
For souls don’t die when bodies die — the future has a showing. 


This comes not by some special court, prepared to try your cases, 
It comes through compensating law, in safe but certain doses. 

It notes your every action — it numbers all your lies — 

’T will pay you every farthing — for Justice never dies. 

Your every dereliction will be charged to your account, 

And being, too, on interest may sum a large amount, 


Which must be paid in pure chagrin, along your future track, 
"Twill meet you with a shameful dun, at every turn and tack. 


* 


40 Common Sense Theology 


All unsound acts, though well concealed from every mortal eye, 
Will spot the soul, and leave a stain to shame you by and by. 


Like tan upon your sunburnt face — or mildew on your linen — 
Your moral coward deeds will tell just how much you’ve been 
sinning. 


And contrawise, your good deeds, too, will get a faithful showing. 
Clairvoyance will disclose the whole — this fact is worth your 
knowing. 


Let duty, then, be uppermost in ev’rything you do, 
For ev’ry act of policy will be sure to put you through. 


Yea, ev'ry man is just.as sure to meet his evil deeds 
As age is sure to come of years, or blades and stalks from seeds. 


Man’s duty is man’s interest — always and ev’rywhere — 
He is not shrewd who does not keep his conscience on the square. 


Mourn not for the Past — Live in the Present — Have an Eye to 
the Future. 


Why mourn for what is past and gone? If what you’ve done was 
wrong, | 
And you now see the wrong, reform, just now, do right, be strong. 


Fear not for what is yet to come —do now thy best we pray — 
The present cries, “Give me your heed, O! be a man to-day !” 


The past is dead ; now bury it; the future’s yet unborn; 
The present now is thy best friend — O, cherish, never scorn ! 


. The present heeded, loved, obeyed, with all the light you have, 
Will bless the future, crown the past, and smile though devils rave. 


Give me the man who’s pluck enough to do just right, just now, 
In future he may sup with kings, though he now drives the plow. 


What mighty mountains have been scaled by single steps each now, 
The present used as reason prompts will crown the vilest brow. — 


No matter what thy past hath been —if your not dead rejoice — 
Thy future never need be worse than now without your choice. 


Man’s constitution is so wrought that good acts give him hope, 


Which muitiplied expand his soul and give it broader scope. 


One earnest movement tow’rd reform is worth a million fears, 
One deed of virtue now performed may bless a thousand years. 


Whate’er we sow that we must reap, else law must be repealed, 
Sow good seed now and you shall reap a a happy future yield. — 


One talent well used now, my friend, is worth a dozen hid, 
The one will not be long alone if action prompt forbid. 








in Rough Shod Rhyme. Al 


Procrastination cheats the soul, by overlooking now ; 
Procrastination pays no debts, nor yet a single vow. 


*Tis vain to call on God for help whilst we’ve no will to work, 
God never stoops to aid the man who dares to act the shirk. 


O! stupid soul! you’d better sin, than idly backward tend! 
For sinful action gives the hope that when you turn you'll mend. 


That all such will turn, Ive no doubt, for evil prompts its cure, 
The prodigal, a case in point, declares the doctrine sure. 


Good parents love impulsive boys, though often quite astray ; 
Bold action seems to promise much when they have learned the 
way. 


Why Such Ups and Downs in Life ? 


This world has many ups and downs the wisest can’t avoid, 
Our brightest prospects do, sometimes, get wofully alloyed. 


This comes not of God’s special will — t’is what he can’t prevent— 
His laws must have their perfect work though we get sharply bent. 


But there is this to comfort all — our goods exceed our ills — 
And in the long run heaven comes and every measure fills. 


But accidents let all expect, in this great world of change, 
And when they come don’t fret yourself nor think it very strange. 


Sometimes ’tis thorny, rough and hard, all through this mortal life, 


But, Lazarus-like, the change at death, may stop this terrible strife. 
Sometimes we do but just escape —just clear some awful grief — 
And then, again, while deep in woe, change brings us quick relief. 
Sometimes in self-reliant strength we glory in our power 

To ward off fate; but ah! what change comes o’er us in an hour. 


Sometimes in morbid fear and dread we suffer without need ; 
And then, again, we go it blind, and sorrow comes with speed. 


"Tis best, methinks, to keep quite cool — nor let one’s spirits flag— 
Be up and dressed for all that’s good, and let kind nature wag. 


“Great peace have they that love God’s laws and nothing shall 
offend them,” 
The worst that sorrow can do such is not to break, but bend them. 


There is no act nor accident that can destroy the soul — 
‘Tis so elastic in its make ’twill over-ride the whole. 


. Though all coincident horrors should pierce and bruise the soul, 
Eternity shall rectify — and recompense for all. 


So do not fret at anything — come whatsoever may — 
Let joyful hope in God’s beyond, drive sorrows far away. 


a 


42 | Common Sense Theology 


‘Twill not be long ere death shall cut the circumstantial cord 
Which binds you down in sorrow’s hell —then patience gets re- 


ward. ” 


Thoughts Suggested by a Skull. 


USED SOMETIMES AT THE OPENING OF LECTURES ON PHRENOLOGY. 


First, what of this skull? This wonderful box, 
Once the home of a sentient soul, 

Is brainless, — is empty —a thin hollow shell — 
Its owner has left its control. 





“Iwas found near the base of the great Rocky Range 
Where the Chickasaws hunt for their game, 
A woman, no doubt, from its size and its shape, 
Though nothing is known of her name. me . 


"Twas given to me by an old Western Friend, 
Whose bus’ness was like unto mine, 

He found it, as now, with the brain all decayed, 
And soon it will be so with thine. 


‘ 


I know, from its shape, she was gentle and mild, 
For Caution and Friendship are strong ; 
How pretty her face, we cannot well tell, 


Death mildewed and sent her along. 


What hopes and what fears, what sorrows and joys 
Have brooded within this thin case, 

There’s no one can tell, for the owner is gone, 
And doubtless the most of her race. 


. She may have been blest with many kind friends, 
She may have been Sorrow’s own child — 
What fortune was hers we hardly can tell — 
She dropt in that great Western wild. 


Well, fortune has freaks all o’er this wide world — 
There’s none that may hope to escape — 

She sometimes well favors and sometimes she frowns — 
She mixes and all must partake. 


Some glide along smoothly quite thro’ this short life, 
But the future is yet to be met — 

No knowing what sorrows are in the beyond — 
For sorrow, there’s time enough yet. 


Aye, sorrow must come, for all need a taste 
To soften and open the heart, 

There’s none can well feel for others’ hard luck, 
Until they have shared a good part. 


in Rough Shod Rhyme. | 43 


So do not be haughty ye fortune-crowned men, 
Remember there’s time enough yet 

To learn you to live and to Je¢ live as well — 
Much sorrow must somewhere be met. 


How wrong then to meet a soul in distress 
With other than kindliest feeling ; 

The more one can shun, the more he may sigh, 
When Justice shall make her appearing. 


Our world is a world of singular mixture, — 
Where goodness is str ugeling for life, 

And every one ought to give her a lift, 
And hasten the end of her strife. 


And every one would, did they but well feel 
Themselves to be part of the whole, 

And therefore not blessed in full till they felt 
The throb of humanity’s soul. 


My brother, be good, — be gentle and kind — 
Let no one get sorrow by you; 

Then heaven will come — the angels will bless, 
And Conscience will ticket you through. 


Phrenology and its Teachings. 


Man’s greatest knowledge, Pope declared, was man himself to 
aie : [ show. 
But how to reach this knowledge fast, Pope did not—could not 


Phrenology then was not in vogue, Pope lived in stage-coach times, 
The toot of steam had not been heard, yet manly were his rhymes. 


He found in all of nature’s works the steps of a fine gradation 
_ From tiniest worm to loftiest man — the climax of creation. 


But then why differed men so much in gifts and powers of mind, 
And what the use of so much brain, Pope did not, could not find. 


But he set men to thinking, though, and soon there comes a Gall 
Who opes the door Pope could not find, and makes it clear to all. 


Pope’s rich essay was pr opheey of greater light to come — 
The noble Gall hath answered it — hath sent conviction home. 


He puts his hand upon man’s head and measures all his mind — 

Tells where he’s weak and where he’s strong, why cruel, keen or 
kind. 

He gives to mental philosophy a real, tangible hase — 

Discovers the law which hits the facts in every given case. 


He shows that gifts come not of grace, in any special way, [day. 
But come through law and circumstance, as sunshine brings the 


AA | Common Sense Theology 


He shows that man is not depraved, in any total sense ; 
But has a top brain full of good to veto wrong propense. 


He shows, too, that man’s lower brain is normally all right; 
But uncontrolled, or in excess, distorts his moral sight. 
He makes it plain to every man, of wise and clear perception, 
That a knowledge of its principles should govern education. 
And strange, it seems to me, that all who wear the human head, 
Do not profoundly question it, where’er it may be read. eo 
It has more deeply stirred my thought than any theme beside — ~ 
{as solved full many a mystery I could not well decide — 7 


Till I found this key to nature —this steam-car road to truth 
Which shows just how to study man, and how to teach the youth. 


And, furthermore, it shows us how religion got its birth, 
And what it is that constitutes its real gist and worth. 


It lightens é6ld theologies, and makes them clear as day — 
Points out their inconsistencies, and shows a better way. 


The doctrines of Phrenology do clash in good degree 

With stereotyped opinions — but progress is our plea. 

No thought of party, priest, or prince, should bar us from the truth, 
Or hinder the car of progress — or hush the why? of youth. 


For nought but truth can do us good, and nought but error harm, 
That soul who rests upon the truth need never fear alarm. 


So while I’ve more of love for man, for truth, and right, and God, 
Than ancient dogmas, I must speak, though churchmen shake the 
rod. | 


Good Heads and What Follows. 


Good heads are those in which all parts are rounded into harmony, 
With top enough to rule the rest, and prompt to all integrity. 


We can, perhaps, the best describe what heads are good and true, 
By telling what well-balanced ones will never prompt to do. 


Give me the man whose head portrays a soul that loves the right ; 

He’ll never go to church by day, then rob you in the night. 

He’ll never make loud, lengthy prayers which say, “I’m holier 
than thou,” 

Then turn again to wallowing, as doth the dirty sow. 


He'll never tie the mad-dog by an india-rubber string, [Spring.” 
Then, when the “greenies” come around, “steboy — go take um, 


He’ll never praise a thing for sale until the buyer’s got it, [did it.” 
Then, with a wink, turn round and say “’Iwas cute — the way I 








in Rough Shod Rhyme. 45 


He’ll never visit patients twice, when once would do as well, 
Just to get the doctor’s fees, on which to make a swell. 


He’ll never urge a man to law, whose case has no foundation, 
With nought to prompt him but his love for Mammon, pomp and 
station. 


He'll never preach to please the crowd, for sake of big donations, 
Nor have a special call from God, to cover gold temptations. 


He'll never preach in times of peace about an endless hell, 
And then hurrah for bloody war —’tis such a brimstone “sell.” 


He’ll never go and decorate our fallen heroes’ graves, 
And swing his hat in praise of souls his gospel never saves. 


He'll never write opponents down to raise himself thereby, 

Nor be so party-spirited he’ll for his party lie. 

He'll never shout for “ Honest Abe” as though he loved his country, 
Then shoulder arms just long enough to jump a thousand bounty. 


He’ll never blow against the “rebs” as did one “ Brandy Andy,” 


Then, settled in the nation’s chair, act the Namby-Pamby. 


He’ll never tell a homely maid she’s handsome as a picture, 
Just because her father’s rich and she the only daughter. 


He'll never court with bad intent, nor trifle with affection ; 
He'll never marry but for love, nor then without reflection. 


He’ll never swallow alcohol, to multiply his riches, 
Nor let his moral rags hang out, for want of timely stitches. 


He’ll never stand a laughing-stock, to lovers of good order, 
Because of shiftless indolence, nor hate the true recorder. 


He'll never call his neighbors knaves, because old Adam sinned, 
Nor prey upon necessity — nor swear to raise the wind. 


He'll never claim salvation through the virtue of another, 
While he is careless of his deeds, and would his conscience smother. 


He'll never worship that strange God who hung eternal life 
Upon a tempting apple-bough, while serpents charmed the wife! 


He'll never trust in slavish forms — in prayers, or sacred rites, 
For that salvation which is due to him alone who fights. 


Give me the woman, too, whose head rounds into symmetry — 
Whose life and actions all bespeak her inward harmony. 


She’ll never meet her friends with smiles of loving approbation, 
Then slander them behind their backs — it smells of sulphuration. 


She’ll never tell her children lies for lack of patient rule, 
Nor threat to skin them all alive, unless she’s quite a fool. 


46 Common Sense Theology 


She’ll never hunt the starving poor, with baskets full of tracts, 
Nor pray for God to feed and clothe while bend-ing under packs. 


She’ll never scorn those loving souls whom folly caught with traps, 
While secret sins, far worse, her own, are waiting judgment-raps. 


She’ll never pass seducers by with trifling condemnation, 
Then hiss at fallen trustfulness — ’tis pompous degradation. 


But whether male or female heads, it matters nothing which, 
Unless they prompt the Golden Rule, their wearers need God’s 
switch. 


And that they'll g get, for God is bound 5 round us out full well, 
And make us worthy of our life — so shall existence tell. 


Give me the man who’s got the pluck to speak the truth right out, 
For when we have to deat with such, we are not left in doubt. 


Give me the man who worships God from love of righteous rule, 
And not from fear of punishment, which makes the slavish tool. 


Give me the man who’s too much heart to doom to endless hell 
His weaker brother, who’s not yet learned the art of doing well ; 


Who don’t yet see that all his sins like canker, rust and moth, 
Will gnaw his stock of happiness, ’till it is little worth ; 


Who thinks his sins are ’gainst his God, and not against his soul ; 
That, somehow, Christ will cancel them and make the rotten whole. 


Poor thoughtless man, “ your head’s not level,” no sin can be for- 
given ; | 
Just laws would cry out mockery, and devils dance in heaven. 


When man can tread on burning coals and never scorch his feet, 
Then he may break God’s righteous laws, their penalty not meet. 


If not just now, twill surely come —all causes have effects — 
God’s throne in justice cannot stand, while sinners he elects. 


All sinfulness must be outgrown, ere heaven in full can come; 
But heli can’t hold one single soul who longs for a holier home. 


Come, then, ye modest doubting souls, see if your heads are level ; 
If so, unfold and magnify, with gods then you may revel. 

If not, ’tis time that you commenced the work of true TepUrs 5 pe 
To level up and harmonize, may cost the work of years. 


But then it should, it must be done, ere happiness in full, 
Can come unto thy ¢ growing soul; your load none else can pall. 


With just your head, your heart, your hands, you’ve got to climb 
for life ; 
So don’t be waiting Ree for help, to-day commence ‘the strife. 








in Rough Shod Rhyme. | | AT 


Bad Heads, and Who’s to Blame. 


“ Now then,” says one, “if Nature has, through ancestry now dead, 
Entailed on me fhe unsought curse of an unbalanced head, 

Am I to blaine, though I have bent to sinful action strong?” 
No, no, my friend, youre not to blame — to censure you is wrong. 


True souls would pity, not condemn, would guard, not tempt thy 
soul ; [ whole. 
The sick, says Christ, need healing aid, and not the righteous 


Now if you do as well as you, with your proclivities, can, 
The time will come, O! wounded soul, when you may be a man. 


To make the best of what we are, should be our constant aim, 
For he who rules unruly will, earns more than conqueror’s fame. 


That grand well done which you may claim in each progressive act, 
Will give you joy those never feel who never were thus wrecked. 


Jf thou art faithful o’er a few things then rule thou over many ; 
O! do not barter what you have, though be it but a penny. 


God never yet, it seems to me, gave life to one poor soul, [trol. 
Who’d not the power, were it brought out, to give complete con- 


But if that power lies hidden deep beneath ancestral sins, 
A dozen threescore lives may pass, ere virtue fully wins. 


So don’t despair, though oft you fail—day always follows night— 
Then bravely grapple with thy faults, and you'll come out sun- 
bright. 


Though good heads are a weighty prize, the dad are better than 
none ; [ tone. 
For somewhere down their future course they'll get a righteous 


There’s none so badly out of fix we may not hope for them ; 
God’s laws will surely frictionize, until it reach the gem. 


But when the laws of propagation are fully understood, 
Bad heads won’t be so very much more common than the good. 


Then parents will be less inclined to cast on Providence 
The fault so often well produced by their own negligence. 


Why Differ Men so Widely2 Why? why? why? 
Why such freaks of fortune among the sons of men? 
Why so many ups and downs in human life? And then, 


Why differ men so widely, if Infinite Wisdom rules? 
Why are some wise and lucky, and some unfortunate fools? 


48 ; Common Sense Theology 
Why are some born to plenty, and some to shame and want? 
Why are some beautiful in person, some homely lean and gaunt? 


Why curls the hair of this one, whilst that one’s lays so straight? 
Why sticks up some like bristles, and why that woolly pate? 


Why red, why brown, why black, why white, the hair, the skin, 

the eyes? [ wise? 
Why tall, why short, why thick, why thin, your bodies, thinkers 
Why are some heads of massive size, and some of small dimen- 


sion? 
Why are some quick to take the hint, some dull of apprehension 3 ¢ 


Why are some heads so angular, and some so smooth and round? 
Why here so much of common-sense, and there so little found? 


Why are some heads so full on top, and some so flat and low? 
Why do some people throng the church, whilst others never go? 


Why are some heads so thick and wide, and some so thin and 
square ? [ swear? 

Why do some speak in modest terms, whilst others curse and 

Why are some hearts as hard as stone, and some as soft as wax? 

Why are some prone to hide their faults, whilst others own their 
lacks? 


Why are some faces full of soul, and some so blank and drear? 
Why do some meet you with a smile, whilst others give no cheer? 


Why are some proud and haughty, and full of self-conceit ? 
Whilst others meek and lowly, would scorn to act the cheat? 


Why are some quick and lively, and ready too to work? 
Whilst others fat and lazy, incline to act the shirk? 

Why are some strong and healthy, with very little brains? 
Whilst others, frail in body, are bound to hold the reins? 


Why are some highly gifted, with power to breed a name? 
Whilst-others, bigger headed, must die unknown to fame? 


Why talks this man so glibly, whilst that one rarely speaks ? 
Why sounds this voice so blandly, whilst that one only squeaks? 


Why sings this maid so sweetly, whilst that one can’t learn how? 
Why here so thin a forehead, and there so broad a brow? } 
Why reads this lad so readily, whilst that one blunders on? 
Why writes the reading blunderer, so prettily, anon? — 

DENY. reads this maid the novel, whilst that one calls if trash ? 
Why weds this one true manhood, whilst that one weds the cash? 


Why are some ladies neat as wax, and others rather —“*sluttish ”? 
Why are some maidens frank and true, and others quite coquet- 
tish ? 








in Rough Shod Rhyme. ) 49 


Why takes this man to learning, whilst that one takes to art? 
Why shuns this man his duty, whilst that one acts his part? 


Why chew some men tobacco, whilst others only puff it? [ it? 
Why do some hate the nasty weed, whilst others choose to snuff 


Why hugs this man the bottle, whilst that one hates the smell? 
Why stirs up this a quarrel, whilst that one tries to quell? 
Why 2s this striking difference, in all the aims of life? 

Why seeks this man a lump of gold and that a pretty wife? 


Why are some tongues as smooth as oil, and others blunt and rough ? 
Why do some soap and flatter you, whilst others kick and cuff? 


Why do some people love to laugh, whilst others want no fun? . 
Why sports the fop with maidens’ hearts the rustic with his gun? 


Why worship some a god of power, and some a god of love? 
Why are some cross as tigers, some gentle as the dove? 


Why strive some men for wisdom, and others but for pelf? 
Why do some live for others, and others but for self? 


Why are some prone to progress, whilst others stand stock still? © 
Why do some shilly-shally so, whilst others have a will? 


Why are some full of stratagem, and others fair and bold? 
Why are some so warm-hearted, and others icy cold? 


Why are some frank and honest, and truthful till they die? 
Why others so deceitful, they’ré bound to cheat and lie? 


Why és this mighty difference ?— ye wiser tell us why? 
Has God to some been partial?? OR IS THE CHARGE A LIE??? 


THE ANSWER WHY. 


If God by special action has made each one as he 7s, 
Then he’s a mighty partialist — if we've a right to quiz. 


But if through general laws, by circumstances bent, 
Our differences could-not-be-helped, why then we’ve no complaint. 


And that’s what J believe, my friend, ’twas not in heaven’s power 
To make us better than we are, up to the present hour. 


If so, *twere evidence that God had scarcely done his duty, 
Which most profoundly militates against his moral beauty. 


From this great truth there’s 1o retreat — ’tis patent unto all — 
Self-evident to him who thinks — despite the fabled fall. 


Does any feel to murmur? — just think which you'd prefer — 
Your being as it is just now, or death forevermore. 


Would non-existence be preferred to life in lowly guise? — 
Each beating heart cries O, no, no! — the meanest life’s a prize. 


50 Common Sense Theology | 


And though it be an age before it bear much heavenly fruit, 
Still it shall sing the angel song — ’tis-quite above the brites 


Phrenology steps with boldness, into that awful reach 
"Twixt partial gods and diff’ring men, and closes up the wreden! 


And thus it reconciles the world, by hushing its complaints, 
It does not blame the sinner much, nor does it laud the saints. 


It sees in the shape of the head prime cause for the doings of man, 
And asks, in the name of its God, as teacher to lead off the van. 


* But ah,” say you, “ Phrenology smacks awfully of fate, 
And leads right on directly to the Calvinistic state.” 

Well, what of that? — if it be true ’tis just the place to go; 
Truth will not budge one single inch for either high or low. 


Fate is, I see, in truth allied to progress for the whole, 
And never wills destruction to one single human soul. 


It spreads its brawny arms and says, “ Come hither, all as one, 
Then tutors them till each is fit to be an only son. 


The sooner one makes up his mind to look truth in the face, 
The sooner he may hope to be an honor to his race. 


No manhood can a mortal gain that’s worth a single sou, 
Till he resolves to follow Tr uth, and let her lead him through. - 


Let cowards fear to trust the truth, and paddle round the shore, 
Hoist thy sails, give Truth the helm, then let the billows roar. 


Let no Bible, Priest, or Pope, bar me from searching thought ; 
And everything I wish to know, in Reason’s name is sought. 


The Fatalistic Conditions of Life and the Moulding Power of 
Circumstances. 


I’ve yet to learn if lives the man who’s not a child of fate, 

If you know one please point him out, and tell me of his date. 
Pll ask you where he took his start, and if himself he made? 
And how much hand this freeman had, in shaping out his head? 
Did fancy of his own produce the color of his hair? 

Did he by his own will give face its form, so rough, so fair? 
Did he, by choosing, have his birth in Burmah? or in Rome? 
How much direction did he give about his childhood‘'s home ? 


His gender, did he fix on that, and tell what sex he’d be? 
Beard, or no beard, did he say which? — the answer is not he. 


His mother tongue, did he say what, and have it as he wished? 
Or did he take what came along, as did the boy who fished ? 








in Rough Shod Rhyme. ; 51 


His early teachers. were they all instructors wise and good? 
Was Peter Parley his first choice, or was it Robin Hood? 


Who taught him fitst of heaven’s will concerning future life ? 
The Partialist, or Infidel, or did they beth in strife ? 


What Bible did he first peruse, the Koran or the Shaster ? 
Or was it Hebrew, which we think, is onward ae faster ! 


What idol did he first adore, who was his father’s god? 
Some Hebrew, Hindoo, Pagan thing that wields a ‘despots rod ? 


Or did his father spurn all gods, by whomsoever taught? 
Then bow himself before blind Chance, that unknown ged, once 
sought ? : : 


In later life how goes the strife, did he by will control [soul ? 
The “ powers that be” which all can see help, shape and form the 


Or did he move as moved upon? — could he ’thout wind set sail? 
And when the thunder storm came on, could he prevent the hail? 


Now who can say that he is free and suffers no control? 
The very elements we breathe expand or cramp the soul. 


“It seems,” says one, “that I am free to walk, or sit, or stand, 
Or do what ere I please to choose, without the least command.” 


It seems, too, that the earth stands still—and that the sun rolls 
round — 
But wider, broader views declare that ire is unsound. 


Man’s just as free as water is on a descending plane ; 
Or as the seed which being sown is free to yield again. 


Man’s free to do whate’er he wills, if so it be he can, 
But whence the force that sets his will? — that lies aback the man. 


Man’s will is but another wheel in God’s machine of fate, 
And all essential to the gear — though it be all innate. 


It works the same as does his heart, by forces brought to bear, 
And whether weak or strong in him, is owing to the gear. 


Man’s but a link in Nature’s chain —a bud on Nature’s tree — 
A passenger on Nature’s chain — how then can he be free ? 





Inherent power and circumstance make all men what they are, 
As these direct we may advance to wisdom or to war. 


Think you the pear, the peach, the plum, hath sufficient power 
To tell how fair it may become ?— or whether sweet or sour. 


As ’tis with fruit, so ’tis with men—we did not form our natures — 
We're only fruits of Nature, then, hence circumstantial creatures. 


° 


‘52 Common Sense Theology. 


And yet ’tis well — and fated, too — that men should boast their a 
freedom, [dom. 
-And damn their neighbors, who eae dowir to the nether king- — 


And then, in turn, yet damned themselves, and feel that ition a 
deserve it; : 
But fate intends to any men up into a sphere above it. 


‘The sooner there, the sooner free from slavish, hurtful passion— _ 
The freest men have well outgrown this rough and tumble fashion. 


Crude conditions make crude men — better conditions, better — 
But conditions, good or bad, rule men to the letter. 


That circumstance oft makes the man we’ve proof to large amount ; 
He who disputes has not observed, nor traced things to their 
fount. 


How many a man both wise and good, has died without renown, 
And just because the circumstances on him severe did frown. 


How many a knave, unwise and base, has left a royal name — 
And just because the circumstances conspired to give him fame. 


How trifling, too, the circumstance which makes or breaks the 
man — 
A word, a look, a thought or step has opened up the plan. 


Yet no one should of life complain, for Justice has the helm — 
This life is but the opening scene to an eternal realm. 


No night so dark but hath its morn, no day without its night ; 
Then Dr avely breast the fated storm and work with all your might. 


And you whom fate has smiled upon, be humble, O! be kind 
To those whom fate has frowned upon—for Justice stands behind. 


He may be slow, but he is sure, he’s stern, but yet he’s true, 
He'll not destroy by circumstance, nor save a chosen few. 


Thus wags the world — now up —now down — Fate smiles — 
then frowns again — 
Man’s freedom’s like the troubled sea — or as the driven rain. 


His present state, like weather vanes, shows how the wind is 

blowing, 
But how ’twill point in future days he’s little means of knowing. 
This much let all remember well, that principles don’t change — 


All plans and hopes well built on them fate cannot disarrange. 


And, furthermore, don’t look for much where little has been given ; 
Nor spurn that brother who’s too weak to trot with you to heaven ; 


But take him by the hand and say Dll help thee, weaker brother, 
“The bruised reed I will not break, the smoking flax not smother.” 








in Lough Shod fhyme. 53 


The vilest man is but one’s self, if born and bred as he; 
And if his vices don’t enslave, O! what but fate makes free? 


What folly, then, to kick and cuff, or hoot your fellow man — 
The measure that you mete to him, must come to you again. 


Ye who mock your fellow-man must mock his Maker, too, 
And hence you've not the least redress, when others mock at you. 


The purest kind of charity is gendered by this view ; 
By it the term, “God’s All in | All,” is proven to be true. 


Still fate hath power o’er Jehovah, my reason bears me witness, 
Iie cannot work but by the law of an eternal fitness. 


And his wisdom lies more surely, in his willingness to be, 
Forever guided by that fitness — hence, eternally he’s free. 


And when man has well decided to adopt Jehovah’s rule 
Of submission to that fitness, he has entered freedom’s school ; 


But until then he dams the stream of fitness in its flow, [ woe. 
And breaks the current of that stream, and hence comes sin and 


When man gets more of wisdom, though, he’ll tear away this dam, 
And float upon life’s current then, as sinless as the lamb. 


And as he grows in knowledge the more and more he'll see 
The fates have well determined to make man sinless-free. 


And his freedom well advances with his wisdom as he goes, 
So that somewhere down the future he shall conquer all his foes. 


The power to reason has its source in eternal freedom ; 
And when perfected will deliver every soul from thraldom. 


But while man’s wisdom is perfecting, he’ll be swaying to and fro ; 
Now be sinning, now repenting, till he learns just how to go. 


Fate and wisdom are like wedges, head to point inclined ; 
Fate grows less as wisdom strengthens ; freedom’s at the upper end. 


So fate with reason, grandly wedded, promise for the future, 
Exalted manhood to each man when he’s had time for culture. 


Now do not think [’d have men drop into a listless state, 
Because they stand encircled in the arms of mighty fate. 


For one great truth of fate is this — the innate laws of God 
Make man account for every deed with an unflinching rod. 


No other way could man be taught the lessons of existence — 
The fitness of the laws of life — the folly of resistance. 


No other way could man attain to knowledge or to bliss, 
Since all things would unstable be, if it were not for this. 


Let fate then, much encourage us, since we’ve discerned the law, 


_ And spur us on to remedy our each and every flaw. 


54 Common Sense Theology 


Motherhood and Fatherhood. 


O! what a joy to woman’s heart creative power should bring, 
Karth’s grandest possibilities around this function cling. 


It does forever vicld her sex the acme of all praise, 
Because creation were a blank without her aid to raise 


Immortal beings out of dust into the realm of thought, [nought, 


Where progress takes them on to bliss; without her man were 


And nature would forever sigh o’er lack of culmination, 


And die, at last, of grief, for want of thoughtful recognition. 


But ah! this power to nourish into life undying souls to grow 
Throughout a whole eternity, I am compelled to know 


Is held in very low repute by thousands of our mothers, 
Who fain would shun it as a plague, more loathsome than all others. 


Maternity they ne’er accept only as a burthen — 
A kind of drudging female curse, never to be chosen, 


Nor yet endured till they have tried with all their might and main 
Lo save themselves from motherhood, and hence from f. imily gain. 


But how can woman fill her sphere while she contends in strife 
’Gainst nature’s wish to bless more souls with everlasting life? 


Now, inasmuch as nature has, in wisdom laid the plan, 
For women to be instruments, in giving life to man, 


What right have they to spurn the call in nature’s wisdom given, 
To multiply existences — and start up souls for heaven? 


They’ve none, you see, and such but pray for everlasting death ; _ 
The boon received and not transferred, curtails their right to breath. 


It seems to me, if any woman deserves to fail of heaven, 
It is the one who kills her babes before she’s borne her seven. 


Is not the loving fruitful mother, the worthiest of earth? 
Can thou ehtful 1 men but worship her who gloried in their birth? 


As being is the richest gift a mother can bestow, 
So mother is the sweetest name we mortals ever know. 


Does any woman pride herself on children few in number? 
And count herself more wise therefor ? "Lis doubted, now remember. 


The marriage bond implies intent to multiply the race, 
Hence, those who wed and shun results, the marriage-bed disgrace. 


The means employed, results must come, or nature is outraged ; 
And she who wars with nature’s laws, her devil has uncaged. 








in Rough Shod Rhyme. 55 
How many mothers now endure this burning thought of shame, 
“Ive been a murd’rer of babes, though blessed with wealth and 
fame.” 


Say, is that woman womanly who closes up her ears 
’Gainst nature’s frequent calls for life, because of cares and fears ? 


Why should she feign, and make excuse, and say she is too frail, 
When poisonous teas and medicines augment her every ail?- 


And were not hers a frail excuse, she ne’er had sought to marry, 
An honest frailty ne’er would seek a double load to carry. 


Full many a weakly Miss has made a fruitful, robust mother, 
Because she heeded nature's call — nor did with doctors bother. 


False pride, false life, and sqeuamishness, in fashion’s ranks, oft 
frown 
On mothers of large families, who dress in homespun gown, 


And call them dumps, and breeders, and slaves to little brats, 
As though ’twere vulgar to grow men, and hint of dogs and exits. 


Let such remember Christ, was not his mother’s only son, 
Nor did a palace shelter him, nor was his bed of down. 


Nor is Ward Beecher all the child his mother ever had, 
There’s many a Beecher sprang from her, that mother must he glad. 


God bless such mothers, they’ll save the world from going to decay, 
Because in them dame Nature has an undisputed sway. 


Why! nature has for ages been preparing to make mothers, 
Hence gratitude should prompt to give eternal life to others. 


Let mothers, then, do what they can [consistently ] to swell the 
tide of life; 
An everlasting joy ’twill be beyond this world of strife ; 


Unless there be an endless hell, of inextinguishable fire ; 
Then, mothers are but monsters great, fi ithers but misery’s sire. 


How dare believers in such hell to venture propagation ? 
Such awful daring shows they are but worthy some damnation. 


Ah! never a mother yet believed there was a hell for hers, 
If so then children would be scarce, consistency infers. 


I know not which to censure most, fruitful hell believers, 

Or fruitless, false progressionists — they’re equally deceivers. 
’Tis time all masks of falsity were torn from woman’s face, 

So she might feel her grandest work to multiply the race. 


And if her duties in this sphere forbid extended knowledge, 
Her honest actions would transmit what’s better, moral courage. 


56 : Common Sense Theology 


Mere book acquaintance does not give the best of education, 
Experience in honest life more surely lays foundation. 


For joy and progress in those spheres where child-birth cares are 
done ; wae 
Where honest mothers’ fruitfulness great glory will have won./ — 


a 


The time misspent in Fashion’s courts, if used in getting kn 
edge 
Of Nature’s laws, would well fit maids to enter Duty’s eolleg, - 


And duty never frowns on those who love the good and true, 
Transgressors only find a hell, and such are not a few. 


As mothers’ joys in honest life are far above all others, 
So miseries untold torment those married ones not mothers, . 


Perhaps ’tis well that fashion’s dupes eschew a mother’s joys, 
Such minds as toys may satisfy might ne’er produce but toys. 


* Give children or I die” was once the loyal woman’s cry, 
But now, “Give pleasure, do, dear Lord, no children—rather die.” 


It is lamentable, indeed, that women well refined 
Should be so loth to multiply ; they say they’re thus inclin od, 
Because they think their time and brains are worth too much for this, 
They’d leave such work for grosser minds, and “ hurry on to bliss.” 


Like Shakers they’d ignore the law which gave themselves a birth, 
And prove themselves unworthy of their own inflated worth. 


Refinement and intelligence have need to be transmitted, 
And those too good to multiply are rather to be pitied, 


Than praised for such undue advance, they’re useless to the race, 
They are so transcendental that translation meets their case. 


Let no one glory but in use — true minds are scarce indeed, 
And should be multiplied by birth, ere progress can succeed. 
That grand, old, Beecher mother did far greater work by birth 
Than ever good old Lyman did with all his pulpit worth. 
If like transmits its like ’tis plain the higher types must breed, 
Or else the lower overrun and grossness takes the lead. 
This is the reason why the race is still so deep in sin, 
Tobacco, rum, and war, and lust, most breeders were bred in. 
O! ye who live in consciousness of high and holy aims, 
Transmit them, if ’tis possible, and answer Duty’s claims. 
"Twill honor you through ages hence — this grandest -work done 
well; 
"Twill reach in its significance beyond all ken to tell. 





: in Rough Shod Rhyme. 57 


Be mothers of men, be women true, let nature be your guide, 
Let fashion and folly fizzle and fuss, while onward with nature 
you glide. 


With circumstance appropriate no woman can do better 
Than to train herself for motherhood ; all manhood is her debtor. 


Perhaps you think I’ve too much zeal in such a cause as this, 
And if a female would incline to “hurry on to bliss.” 








No, no, my friend, I do rejoice — most heartily rejoice 

In having life — in being born — and hence I lift my voice 
In praise of noble motherhood ; — ’tis so sublime to be ; 
How else a thoughtful soul can feel, it puzzles me to see. 


Had mother failed to bear her seventh I’d not been here to-day 
To thank her for eternal life — or chant my heart-felt lay. 


Two other brothers, after me, are singing this same song 
In praise of mother Hamilton, to whom the nine belong. 


But motherhood in woman, hints of fatherhood in man, 
A dual duty is involved in this creative plan. 


True fathers are as scarce, no doubt, as true mothers in the world, 
And condemnation brickbats are at them as fitly hurled: 


Men mostly marry without thought of fitness in their match, 
And take a wife from show or wealth because she is a catch. 


But hardly does the honeymoon pass by with such a match, 
Ere incompatibility begins to fight and scratch, 

And all the joys of wedded life are ended in disgust, 

As each the other tortures well with temper and distrust. 


But there they are, tied up for life, and the best that they can do 
Is to hide their shame and wretchedness and try to worry through. 


And by and by this marriage farce makes parents of the twain, 
And all their viler passions are just handed down again. 


The fire of love’s pure magnetism has never melted down 
The dross of their oak so all their tares are sown. 


And thus the world is peopled with brutish men and women, 
Searce one in thousands bear the mien ‘of nature’s noblemen. 


Begot in hate and lustfulness and nurtured well with grief, 
What blame to such a progeny were it to act the thief, 


Or even act the murderer; while gendered thus in strife 
And soul-fed with the mother’s hate all through its foetal Ife. 


Ah! better that the world knew not of any law of union 
Than to tie up souls in misery whose hearts have no communion, 





58 | Common Sense Theology 


And blast the man who hides himself behind the laws of marriage, 
And there in lust compels embrace, he’s but a beastly savage. 


And shame on all who wed without a perfect understanding 
"Bout parentage, else children will be cursed with double dealing. 


And shame too on the man who fails to act the kindliest part 
Toward the mother of his children while in the bearing state. 


eae 


And vile the man who taints his blood with tobacco and; 
And then transmits these hankerings to children ere th 






ith rum, 
re born. 
No matter if a president — ’tis shameful anywhere — 
_ And every faithful parent will in mercy just forbear. 


Kind nature will, when love prevails in true harmonic union, 
Advance upon the parent stock, and hence the world’s progression. 


Through happy unions made by chance the world has got its gain 
In goodness, and in genius, too; let happy unions reign. 


Let those unhappy fly apart as quickly as they may, 

No sert of good can ever come to progress by their stay. 

When noble men and noble women in love and pure delight 

Are joined by holy purposes the world is growing bright. 

Such unions need no man-r@ade law to hold them well together, 

They're holden by that higher law which men ne’er make nor 
sever. 


Should the divinity of uses but govern every union, 
No devil would be sowing tares or gendering confusion. 


Where Parents Mostly Fail in Training. 
Good parents mostly fail in this — they do not try to show 
How causes and effects relate to bring man’s weal or woe. 


The acts of life and happiness are so closely interwoven, 
’Twere folly in extreme.4o think of ever reaching heaven 


Without a close attention to our thoughts, and words, and deeds, 
For all of these affect the life; they are the very seeds’ 


Which, being sown, shall by and by yield sweet or bitter fruits ; 
Man’s wgal or woe is closely linked with all of his. pursuits. 


They teach their children that their sins are all against their God, 
But whether or no against themselves, they rarely breathe a word. 


I fancy God is quite at ease about sins hurting him; 
Sin hurts the soul who perpetrates — God’s wrath is all a whim. 


An angry God! — and full of wrath! and wrath eternal too ! 
How warped the mind that teaches it—what mischief such men do! 


a 





OO ee oe — eee 


in Rough Shod Ehyme. 59 


God’s wrath, we know, was loudly preached by ungrown Bible 
writers, | 
But *twould die out if it were not for modern holy (?) smiters, 


| Who seem to think their duty is not fairly well begun, 
: Until they preach the wrath of God — as ancients may have done. 


They seem to give but little heed to later inspirations, 
Where if for eye and tooth for tooth have found their limitations. 


| We pardon men of olden times for lack of finer feelings, 
But modern saints have no excuse for such unlovely teachings. 


We do conjure them all to preach that Gop 1s Love, nought else, 
And blesses every soul he can in the present and the future tense. 


Shall man be taught to curb Azs wrath, and render good for evil, 
While G'od’s allowed to whet his ire, and send men to the devil? 


What inconsistencies are taught in God Almighty‘s name! [tame ! 
What solemn blund’rers are our priests! how wordy — yet how 





The laws of spirit-life and growth get scarce a moment’s thought, 
While useless creeds and wrathful gods with pious zeal are taught. 


How sin and sorrow link themselves in sure and certain ways, 
Is rarely ever hinted at by him who loudly prays. 


All sinful acts are carried on to one great future day, 
When God shall try the doubting soul and send him hence away. 


But God tries men at every turn by laws eternally fit, 
For every cause gives just effect, no matter who is hit. 


"Tis by the friction of God’s laws that men get all their woes, 
The cure for sin lies in reform, as Jesus plainly shows. 


So teach your children this great truth, that every single act 
Will bless or curse them soon or late, for law proclaims the fact. 


And thus you'll teach them truthfully about accountability, 
And make them feel decisively their own responsibility. 


The Science of Matrimony. 


O! ye young men ard Pornaidens who’re about to launch away 
Upon the sea of married life, list ye to what I say 

About the choosing of companions in order to attain 4 

A sound and healthy progeny, and happiness retain. 


The science of all sciences is that which shows us how 

To improve the human species by a righteous marriage vow. 
And if it were not vulgar deemed to be talking such things o’er, 
I would gladly lift the curtain and display some facts in store 
About that law which interblends and makes the twain but one, 
Where, in contrast, not similitude, the righteous act is done. , 





60 Conumon Sense Theology 


If our cattle and our horses can be very much improved, 
What trouble is there, tell me, pray, that cannot be removed 
Tn the way of man’s redemption through the propagative law 
Which acts with such precision you cannot find a flaw. 


Prom causes always come effects wherever they're at work, 

All curses which may come to man in bad conditions lurk. 
Magnetic laws must be obcyed by those who seek to marry, 

Or else contention steps between to alienate and worry. — 

And if, perchance, they’ve children born, poor puny things are they, 
And if they live they’re monuments of premature decay. 


If positives and negatives do not in union meet, 

No healthy children ever can the sinful union greet. 
Similitude of temperament destroys the law of union, 

And healthy life can never come from such unwise connection. 


All persons lean in structure, with foreheads that retreat, 

Are positive in make-up, be they strong or weak, 

But all projectile foreheads, be they weak or strong, 

Are negative in structure, and such alone belong — 

To the positives just mentioned, where tbe front is falling back, 
Then heads and hearts co-operate and the children have no lack. 


All persons much lymphatic are negative to kill, 

And should match the lean and positive or else their children will 
Be foolish, or imbecile, or scrofulously inclined, 

And die in early childhood, the waifs of humankind. 


Dame Nature meant, there is no doubt, that man should be the 
positive, 

And woman less in size and strength, should always be the negative. 

2 

But hot-bed life and luxury have much unsexed the race, 


So negative men and positive women are seen in every place. 


When women are the positives, the men should let them lead, 
Aud if themselves are negative, ’tis surely what they need. 
The children of such unions are just as smart and bright 

As when the men are positive, the contrast makes it right. 


The reason that so many die so very, very young, 
Is all because their parents have been mated up so wrong. 


Opinion says that cousins should in no case woo or wed, 
Because so many fools are born in their consanguine bed. 
But cousins may, if they contrast, get married if they will, [full. 


And healthy children, bright and smart, may fill their house brim- 


The trouble comes because alike in temperamental hue, 

And not because they’re cousinly, for nature will be true 

To contrast, and she always aims to make the children better 
Than the parents are, and always will, when conditions let her. 








in Rough Shod Rhyme. 61 


She knows no incest equal to temperamental sameness, 
And mark it well, you'll find right here matrimonial lameness. 


There’s one thing more. The parties should be equal in refinement, 
The coarse and fine will not combine in conjugal contentment. 


Honor we'd give to whom ’tis due, we therefore haste to say 
Byrd Powell of Kentucky was the first to see the way. 

And when the world has weighed his thought, as by and by it will, 
His name, with great discoverers, will have its niche to fill. 


The Blissful Results of True Marriage. 


There’s ne’er a joy beneath the sun that wilt compare with this — 
The blending of two hearts in one —the cream of earthly bliss. 


Who has not tasted does not know what nature has in store [ core. 
For all her sons and daughters pure when they have reached the 


Whene’er thy heart interiorly doth meet another heart sincere 
And the blending doth exalt thee, then rejoice—for heaven is near. 


Aye, rejoice, thy cup is brimming—heaven itself can do no more— 
Male and female, thus uniting, gives the Jest of heaven’s store — 


Gives the richest of all blessings — o’er the soul a halo flings — 


Tis the glory of all being —’tis the essence of all things. - 


Such a union needs no prating of a priestly tongue to sanction, 
Heaven gives the right and title, by the blissful, holy unction. 


Such a union knows no waning—rolling years but gives it strength ; 
Such a union, my dear reader, must be yours and mine at length. 


And when such unions shall be common with the parties who unite, 
Moral heroes, poets, god-men will not be so strange a sight. 


But none should think there’s only one, in this great world of ours, 
That has the requisite fitness, to match that heart of yours. 


For hundreds live, there is no doubt, who’d fit you handsomely, 
And wedded well would tone your life to bliss most heavenly. 
With love in rightful exercise, this blending will increase, 

Till perfect oneness glorifies, and brings in perfect peace. 


But better far to dwell alone and worship one’s ideal, [royal. 
Than wed a soul who don’t inspire with thoughts and deeds most 


And when, indeed, you find yourself but wedded to a woe, 
Then if you can in honor part, ’twere better far to go. 


If not in honor, then hold on, till death the knot shall sever, [ever. 
Then, when in soul-life, better chance may bless your choice for- 


62 Common Sense Theology 


For nature gives a counterpart to all her sons and daughters, 
Else heaven would grow vacant soon through search fon blissful 
quarters. 


What about Jesus—called the Christ? 
Who was Jesus — called the Christ? Was he the Son of God? . 
Begotten by the Holy Ghost, as written in the Word? ae 


That is, was he the “only Son of God,” as ’tis by some Capresso d, 
Or as by others, God Himself, in flesh made manifest ? 


Or was he simply Son of Man? — so happily endowed 
With gifts and graces heavenly the pious called him Lord? 


The Scripture calls him many names, Christ Jesus, Elder Brother, 
The Prince of Peace —the Wonderful, the Everlasting Father — 


The Alpha and Omega, too — the Beginning and the End — 
And many other titles grand, we in the Seri ipture find. | 


But still he was of woman born, he ate, he drank, he slept; 
He said he was the Son of Man — he talked, he prayed, he Wider 


- He went about like other men for three and thirty years ; 
At last he died upon the cross, oppressed with doubts and fears. 


“Eloi, Eloi, lama, mpacithcnts ’tis said he uttered then, 
“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me” —this proves 
him but a man. 


He’d labored in Gethsemane to shun the dreaded cup, 
Had sweat as ’twere great drops of blood before he could give up. 


Which presupposes anxiousness and lack of godly power 
To meet his doom with calm content; it was a trying hour. 


Ife’d taught the people faithfully — had healed the sick, but then 
He could not do some mighty works for lack of faith in men. 


He’d been into the mountain led to be tempted of the Devil, 
But could a God be tempted much by anything that’s evil? 


Mow could a God be tempted by a being he had made? 
And where’s the virtue of the man, if God the tempter laid ? 


It seems to me so farcical for God to act like man, 
I cannot see how men can hold the trinitarian plan. 


Nor can I see why men should praise a God for doing well: 
How could a God do otherwise? Will trinitarians tell ? 


Why should a man that’s equal with the Father of all life 
Be bant’ring with that fallen Imp — the author of all strife ? 


e e ° ee 
He spake, ’tis said, as never man, and I'll admit ’twere so, 
He was extremely spiritual, and hence, more apt to know. 





: f Ne . Pours 
ome Ma, hls roe ee , : i ie 
ee te eee ee ee a 





in Rough Shod Rhyme. 63. 


This was the reason why he was proclaimed the Son of God ; 
He was so finely organized clairvoyance toned his word. 


Conditions most exquisite had expression in Christ’s birth ; 
And hence his grand ascendancy — his loveliness and worth. 


No wonder men of Palestine were startled by his presence, 
His psychometric readings were their proof of his omniscience. 


And hence the good ones called him Lord, while bad ones called 
him Devil. 
But neither viewed him truthfully — and thence a mighty evil. 


’Tis possible that Christ himself did not exactly know 
What manner of a man he was or what ’twere best’to do. 


And hence he fasted forty days in solitude sublime, 
Communing with the Angel world about his age and time. 


And, doubtless, there made up his mind to speak his thoughts 
and die — 
For well he knew the Pharisees would kill him by and by. 


Then Angels came and ministered — they’d found the proper man | 
To bring the Angel world to light; we glory in their plan. 


But why should God be fasting so? Was it to gain more strength 
To meet his own created devil, who quizzed him there at length ? 


Or was it to convince the world that he could live ’thout food ? 
In either case a fruitless farce; believe ! —I never could. 


But if a brother man it seems quite rational and right 
For him to fast — ’tis good to fast — it quickens spirit sight. 


He would be sound, and sharp, and bold —have power to meet 
those Scribes ; 
He must not cater to their pride, nor yet accept their bribes. 


The Devil must not tempt him from his mission to that age ; 
So down he came, from that long fast, a prophet and a sage. 


Christ may have thought he were begot in some miraculous way 
Because so much more spiritual than the people of his day. 


His parents may have been entranced at the time of his conception, 
And all concerned quite honest in this marvellous deception. 


Perhaps ’twere best that ignorance should deify Christ’s goodness 
And be transformed by worshipping into his moral likeness, 


And thus keep virtue’s heart alive till wisdom should unroll 
And thus reveal the God of gods — the Universal Soul. 


Indeed the Scriptures indicate that time would give the call 
For GChrist’s surrender unto God, and God be Au In ALL. 


64 Common Sense Theology a 


That time has come, with many minds, and man-made gods should 


cease, 
For Love and Wisdom, wedded well, beget the God of peace. 


Hence, none should say, know ye the Lord, for every one should 
know 
That God is God, and Christ is man; how plain when rendered so. 


Now all men are the sons of God — children of the Father, 
And Christ the Lord’s most fitting name Good Jesus, Elder Brother. 


Adam, you know, was styled God’s son; in the genealogical Word 
We read —“ Which was the son of Adam, which was the Son of 
God.” 


And does not every little child’when asked who made him say 
God made me — gave me to my Ma? —and is the child astray? 


God makes us all. Where’er he can he multiplies true souls ; 
And when conditions will allow a Jesus he unfolds. 


But if conditions won’t admit a being good and pure, 
He’ll do the next best thing he can, start sick, then heal and cure. 


All kinds of men are gendered in the great creative womb, 


And all of them are hasting on beyond an earthly tomb. 


And each and all in that beyond must have a chance to grow, 
Or else the law of progress dies, when over there we go; 


Which cannot be, for laws hold good forever and for aye, 
God has no pets nor favorites, for all he clears the way. 


All men are pupils in God’s school; his laws the tutors there ; 
Who breaks the rules will get the raps — but no one gets despair. 


Een meagre life in every sense is better far than none, 
Or God’s a bunglar, verily — his work: i is poorly done. 


All men he makes the best he can, or he’s not truly good, 
Conditions vary, hence he can’t do everything he would. 


Tfull many an epoch passed before Christ Jesus could have birth, 
And many more may pass before one like him walks the earth. 


And when he eame he was so much above the common herd 
The Pharisees derided him — while good men called him Lord. 


All the sweet graces of the past got centred there in him, 
And made him worthy great renown — a pattern for all time. 


A brilliant pattern, Jesus was, for lesser men to follow ; 
And ail who pattern after him must tread a path quite narrow. 


But still it may, it can be walked, by other than the Son; 
Or folly, twere, to ask of men what never can be done. 


a vo — 


—— eS 








in Rough Shod Rhyme. — 65 


And folly worse to punish men throughout an endless future 
For what they are incompetent, with this world’s chance for cuiture. 


Christ may be King in spirit-life because most fit to reign ; 
And every knee may bow to him because so free from stain. 


His rule must be the rule of love — none other fits the man; 
This rule, so little known on earth, in heaven leads the van. 


A Saviour, Christ may well be cailed —he taught a better way 
Than men had lived before his time —his teachings save to-day. 


His blood was precious from the fact twas shed in truths defence ; 

But still the éruth and not the blood gave Christ’s omnipotence. 
Few men are Christians but by growth, yet Christians all shall 

For every one must grow to Christ, or progress dies you see. [be,. 

If I be lifted up, said Christ, ll draw all men to me; 

Love is the cord he draws them with, and love extreme had he. 

All shall be caught by the noose of love and drawn up out of sin,, 

Nor will he cease his loving work till every one is in. 

And just so long as Christ shall live so long he’ll love his: race ; 

And just so long as sinners live he’ll try to reach their case. 

It matters not which side of the grave these sinners shall be found,. 

He'll pour the balm of Gilead wherever there’s a wound.. 

He knows what bad conditions, bad circumstances, too, 

Bad training and bad parentage have with the bad to do. 

If not he’s not the Lamb-of God in any worthy sense, 

Nor yet a worthy Son of Man — he’s but a sham — pretence. 


He had some faults, we may presume, though none were ever 
mentioned ; 
*Tisn’t human to be. faultless here, e’en titled with the Reverend. 


He made some blunders, I’ve no doubt, for he was not omniscient 3, 
He did the best he knew each time and that was all-sufficient 


To lead him on to victory, and up to the highest realm, —_[helm. 
Where real worth commands its dues, and love takes hold the 


He was, perhaps, God’s noblest man — but not the God was he ;. 
Let others call him what they may, he’s brother unto me. 


This lovely Jesus I revere with all my better nature, 
But hope to be as pure as he, somewhere down the future. 


If he has power to rule the world I’m willing that he should ; 
So long as he doth rule by love Pll call him Master Good. 


5 


66 Common Sense Theology . 


What about being Born Again? 


*Ye must be born again,” says Christ, “ ye must be born again ”— 
You're living in the animal man where passion holds the rein. 


And this was true, no doubt it was, of those of whom he spake, 
Their hearts were hard, deceitful, proud, unbalanced was their 
make. 


But are there none so goodly born they need no second birth? 
Whose hearts, quite honest to the core, need nothing but more 
growth? 


Who naturally love the good and true, with all their might and 
main ? 
And have a heart so soft and pure they feel the slightest stain? 


If not then why the sowing parable by Christ so aptly told? — 
‘Where some seed fell upon good ground and brought a hundred- 
fold? 


‘Whilst other fell on stony ground, or by the hard wayside, 
Which springing up with little root must wither soon and fade? 


like those best who’re born so well they needn’t be born again, 

Then, in the church, or out the church, they’re Christian through 
the brain. 

' By nature some are better far than others are by grace, 

And if you'd have the proof of it just quiz their honest face. 


The spirit of truth abounded at their original birth, 
-And hence they walk uprightly — samples of moral worth. 


But when men are not born aright they need the second birth, 
And ought to seek it, for without it they have little moral worth. 


And would you know what’s meant by it, this being born again? 
‘Tis giving conscientious reason the right to hold the rein. 


‘Tis moving up out of animal self into the spiritual realm — 
Where the spiritual man can take the lead and govern at the helm. 


Where all the higher faculties can have their voices heard, [ word. 
Which blending with the still small voice shall give the marching 


Then harmony shall dwell within, for justice will be done — 
Then peace shall spread her gladsome wings and heaven below’s 
begun. 
> 


Till then, a man is only half a man, and the lower half at that — 
He lives a kind of dying life — fit emblem is the bat. 


He sees not that his happiness is in direct proportion 
To the number of his faculties he keeps in good condition, 





in Rough Shod Rhyme. 67 


And so he gropes in animal life — his god but filthy lucre — 


And dies, at last, poor dwarfish thing, “unfitted for the future. 


Whilst he who strives to be a man in spite of all temptation, 
Gains capital for future use, which gives him just distinction. 


God has his throne in man’s top brain—the court of moral feeling, 
And would perfect his every part, did man admit his ruling. 


Man’s moral organs need no change—they’re always good as new— 
But what they want is more of strength to rule the man all through. 


The lower organs, too, are good, if only led aright, 
But being blind they need a guide —they lack for moral light. 


And happy he whose ruling power lies in the upper brain, 
Lose :called, elected, saved, ‘enthroned, in righteousness shall reign. 


What about Forgiveness ? 


Until a man forgive himself, he is not God-forgiven ; 


Nor can there ever come to him a gladsome, peaceful heaven, 
Till he resolves, with honest heart, to cease from sin entire ; 
God ne’er forgives dishonest men, but recommends more fire. 


Though God forgave a thousand times before man thought he 
ought to, 
’T would not at all relieve his mind while conscience serves a veto. 


There comes no peace to any man whose heart’s not true to truth; 
In hell he lives, in hell he’ll die, in hell remain, forsooth, 


Till he has gained the power to be sincere in all his acts, 
Then God is his, and he is God’s; honesty is what man lacks. 


The very moment man decides to give his conscience rule, 


That very moment heaven comes to cheer his honest soul. 


Till then his prayers amount to nought, though e’er so loud and 
The conscience must be satisfied of pure intent and strong. [long ; 
Hypocrisy must always be by honesty abhorred, 

And virtue must forever be by honesty adored. 

Nine-tenths of prayers now offered up are prayers for God’s indul- 
But what avail is any prayer without sincere repentance? [gence ; 
And with repentance, good and strong, what need of wordy prayer? 
Mawn’s honest wish is God s at once; hike witness steps in there. 


What needs the honest man to ask that God would him forgive ? 
The honest man is God’s ally ; he asks for no reprieve. 


Man may with much consistency ask neighbors to forgive ; 
But,ghonest reparations will his neighbors most believe. 


68 Common Sense Theology 


And if he do not right the wrong, if in his power to do it, 
His neighbors may forgive the net, but cannot well forget it. 


No one ean grudge against the man who always rights his wrongs, 
For full forgiveness lawfully to such a man belongs. 


But where’s the man who can forgive the unrepented act ? 
He lives in heaven constantly, and saved is he, intact. 


Such men, well grown, cannot afford to have their peace disturbed - 
By hates and gr udges unforgiven—their passions have been curbed. 


They’re not inclined to take offence, well knowing, as they do, 
That all bad men must suffer much before they’re good all through. 


They do not look for much of strength where little has been given, 
Nor spurn the man who is too weak to trot with them to heaven. 


They well remember how it reads —“ Forgive and be forgiven.” 
They know that none but loving souls can fully enter heaven. 


If ye forgive not others’ sins, neither will your Father yours. 


As ye forgive, so be forgiven —’tis the loving soul that soars. 


What about Sanctification ? 


There is much said in Methodism concerning sanctification, 
As though it came by faith from God through earnest supplication. _ 


But let us reason for a while : — An honest God must be 
Opposed to all hypocrisy, ’tis therefore plain to see 


That honest souls alone can have full fellowship with God ; 
All others stand without the ring, where conscience plies her rod. 


So none get sanctification until they truly will 
To be sincere in all they do —then conscience will be still. 


Hence all are truly sanctified who have an honest heart ; 
For honest hearts eschew all sin, wherever it may start. 


Deception can’t be sanctified by all the powers of heaven, 
Hence honest purpose brings down all the sanctifying leaven. 
So ’tis not faith, nor is it prayer, that rings the blessing in, 
"Tis honest purpose in the will that puts an end to sin. 


No matter when or where you’ve got an honest, guileless will, 
It proves you have been sanctified by keeping conscience still. 


God wills’ your sanctification soon as you will to have it, 
But not a whit will ever come till honestly you crave it. 


Men are so full of scheming guile they fain their God would cheat, 
In this they show their great ungrowth—their foolishness complete. 


No use to.spend your breath in prayer in hopes that God will save, 
Till you with honest will resolve no more to act the knave. » 








in Lough Shod Rhyme. 69 


Then God accepts your purposes without a word of prayer — 
Your honest wish is his at once — no faith is needed there. 


So all you have to do to get a sanctification pure 
Is to be true all through and through, then heaven is yours for sure. 


This kind of sanctification men everywhere must have, 
Ere heaven can be fully theirs, for nothing else can save. 


Just think of knavish men in heaven! who’re smuggled in by 
prayer ! 

How sanctified the place must be !— how blessed to be there ! 

Ah me! sanctification comes through complete fidelity [ felicity. 

To self —to truth and right; and thence comes heaven, peace, 


Then, QO! what folly ’tis to sin! — to smite one’s better nature ! — 
To pierce one’s self with thorns and spears !— and dwarf one’s 
moral stature ! ) 


Come, come, my reader, let ws be, henceforth as true as steel 
To all we know of truth and right, and then we can but feel 


That God is ours, and we are God’s — that heaven is our home — 
That we've a lien on Paradise; QO! let us do it, come! 


What about Charity ? 


The voice of loving charity is keyed upon this note — 
That all in God have parentage, though near or far remote — 


Though dwelling in a brothel hell, or mounted on a throne — 
Carousing in the city full, or starving all alone. 


Then who shall curse his brother — unholy though he be? 
Perhaps from every error yowre not yourself quite free. 


And if you were but called upon to cast the righteous stone, 
You might sneak out as Pharisees did, and leave a Christ alone. 


Just think what bad conditions — bad circumstances, too — 
Bad parentage, and training bad, have with the bad to do. 


And when you feel to judge a man as though you’d “ put him 
As though he were unworthy a being well as you, —_ { through,” 


Hush up that spiteful tongue of yours—give him a chance to grow— 
Before you hang him tell me this, why differs he from you? 


You never made yourself, my friend; then why should you be 
proud? [crowd ? 

And if you've only what’s been given, what right have you to 

"Mildly judge, then, of thy neighbor—be to condemation slow— 

The very best have got their failings—something good the worst 
can show. 


70 | Common Sense Theology 


“Do not mock your neighbor’s weakness when his random whims 
you see, 
For, perhaps, he something like it every day beholds in thee. 


“ Let a fellow-feeling warm you when you criticise your friend — 
Honor the virtue of his actions — in yourself his vices mend. 


* Think not those whom worldlings bonor are the best the earth 
affords, 
Time may knock such off their stiltings when the lowly it rewards. 


* There are fish behind in ocean good as ever from it came, ‘| fame.” 
And there are men, unknown, : as noble as the laurelled heirs of 


Though great the call for charity toward the ungrown man — 


Though every soul is fated sure by some o erruling plan, 


Yet good deeds always challenge praise, and bad deeds gender 
blame, 
K or virtue dwells with good intent, and vice with bad the same. 


Man’s soul was made to worship at virtue’s holy shrine, 
And hence comes honor for the good, in every age and clime. 


Men judge, no doubt, too hastily, in very many cases, 
Hence charity is fitly styled the first of Christian graces. 


Yet who would have the lines between virtue and vice rubbed out ? 
Such doing would beget in man continued moral gout. 


Man’s innate sense of honor will give Paul a worthy name, 
While Judas gets, by that same sense, a most ignoble fame. 4 


Who feels that Booth and Lincoln alike have acted well? 
Though each met death by bullet, which one in honor fell? 


And when they reached the soul-world realm where waiting millions 
stood, . 
Which had the happier prospect of a greeting from the good? 


Ah! reader, ’tis man’s privilege to martial all his forces 
And live in rapport with the gods, if so it be he chooses. 


That “narrow way” which leads unto complete felicity 
Is found alone in these two words — complete fidelity. 


There’s glory great in store for those who righteousness would win 3 


Aye, heaven above heaven keeps opening, as goodness conquers sin. 


There’s shame, too, in the other life, for every shameful deed ; 
Repentance there must staunch the wound or ’twill forever bleed. 


Repentance, though, shall come at length to every human soul, 
And turn the tide of wayward life back toward a blissful goal. 


We would not ask of charity full fellowship with sin, 
But only love sufficient, friend, to draw the sinner in. 


<< 


, 








in Rough Shod Rhyme. 71 


Remember this — without pure Jove unto thy neighbor, brother, 
Heaven will keep fleeing from you, ever and forever. 


What about the Golden Rule? 


Do unto others as ye would that they should do to you, 
Has groundwork in self-evidence, is good the world all through. 


Tis another name for justice —’tis binding on all men, 
And can never be forgotten while the conscience is kept clean. 


Love thou thy neighbor as thyself, is all the creed men need 
To make them holy, just and good, if they but give it heed. 


Without attention unto this no power in heaven or earth 
Can make us what we ought to be — we still shall need new birth. 


Not all the doctrines of the church, nor all the creeds afloat, 
Can fill the mighty vacancy, while love to man’s left out. 


°Tis the sum of all commandments —’tis the bond of social life — 
‘Tis the gist of all religion —’tis the end of mortal strife. 


It bridges o’er the chasm betwixt the high and low — 
Brings heaven down upon the earth and christens every foe. 


’Tis the highest code of morals in the fewest possible words — 


Tis the wisest of injunctions in the gospel of our Lord’s. 

Do nof to others what ye would that they should nef to you, 
Is the negative side of doing, and just as strictly true. 
There’s many things may not offend a person of your stamp 
Which done to different constitutions would label you a scamp. 


Hence, then, “ Be wise as serpents ” are, and “harmless,” too, 
‘as doves,” [ loves. 
“Peace-makers are the sons of God;” their heaven prompts their 


’Tis easy for an honest man to heed the golden rule, 


Because he lives in rapport with High Heaven’s Highest School. 


No heaven can in fulness come to him who heeds it not, 
No matter what his fame may be — he’s but a moral sot. 


And when he comes to stand unmasked before clairvoyant eyes, 
His moral incongruities will label him — “ Unwise.” 


What about the Good Samaritan ? 


That good Samaritan story — how genially it reads — 
When in our better moods we feel like doing merciful deeds. 


That good Samaritan’s charity had no contracted bound, 
But like the sun ’twould radiate where’er humanity’s found. 


72 Common Sense Theology 


He did not stop to question if the object of his aid 
Were Jewish in extraction ; all wounded there he laid, 


And needed the attention of some one passing by, 
Though Priest and Levite would not aid, he must not let him die. — 
No matter if an alien he — a stranger to his kin — 

He’d raise and place him on his beast and take him to the Inn. 


In brotherly mood he bound his wounds, poured in his wine and oil, 
He never queried who would pay, nor grudged his wearisome toil. 


No matter if in haste he was, and rather scant for money — 
He could but watch one night with him before he went his journey. 


And this he did, then paid his host, and gave him two pence more, 
And charged him to take care of him, for he was sick and sore. 


If ’twant enough he’d give him more when he came back again, 
He’d have him well provided for and all the cost sustain. 


How much such good Samaritahs are needed on the earth, 
How few in this great world of ours in charity have much growth. 


But O! the Priests and Levites! how numerous they are! — 
If only good Samaritans they, how soon would heaven ajar. 


If all the big church steeples could each but point to one 
We'd glory in their usefulness and shout for them — “ Well done.” 


But now, as in the olden time, unless the ‘creed’s outgrown, 
The Priests and Levites worship there, Samaritans, scarce one. 


What about Infidelity and Infidels ? 


There is much said in this our day about infidelity ; 
But where’s the standard which shall test its presence and reality? — 


Bad infidelity must be the lack of true fidelity, 
For want of thaé must end in ¢izs — downright dishonesty. 


And hence, then, infidelity is unfaithfulness to trath— 
A trying to believe what is not true at all, forsooth. 


Can fidelity be infidel to what it thinks is true? 
Or faithfulness be unfaithful — to God —to me or you? 


Most surely not. Then who shall use this hard opprobrious word 
’*Gainst any man who seeks the truth, and therefore seeks the Lord? is 


Let him, alone, be infidel who is unfaithful to 
Whatever in his heart of hearts he thinks is good and true. 


No other way can any man please well the God within — 
No other course will ever stop the jargon made by sin. 


Shall every man cry infidel to every other man 
Who don’t believes as he believes? O, what a senseless plan! 








in Tough Shod Rhyme. ay i 


The church calls all men infidels who don’t agree with her, 
No matter how much truthfulness in what they may aver. 


Still she herself embraces a hundred different sects 

As wide apart as antipodes; this certainly reflects 
Against her right to ply this term to those who cannot see 
That all her diff'ring vagaries were God- -ordained to be. 


Truth stands consistent with itself — is trathful every way — 
It could not gender all these isms — hence infidels are they 


To one another, just as much as those who spurn them all — 
Their house is so divided that no power can save its fall. 


And hence they’d better drop the term or give it wiser use, 
Fidelity in search for truth now suffers its abuse. 


Henceforth let those be infidels who are to truth untrue — 
Who will not'‘heed the golden rule in what they say or do. 


Let those who’d know the meaning of complete felicity 

Seek it alone by living in complete fidelity 

To what they deem to be the truth, still let them be that modest 
That they can listen candidly to what another sayest. 


That man who has “no patience left,” to listen to another, 
If candid in his talk with him, isn’t fit to be a teacher. 


Pure honesty, for lack of light, may often get astray, 
But never treads the crooked path when shown the straighter way. 


Dishonesty is never right, though in the narrow way, 
For hypocrites must go to hell, no matter what they say. 


I mean, go into suffering — their only cure for sin ; 
The road to it is broad indeed, and many walk therein. 


All untrue men are infidels, though in the church or out, 
You'll know them by uncandidness, whenever they’re about. 


What about Angel Ministration ? 


No use to blind your eyes and say the angels do not come, 
As well to say, no angel yet has ever left its home. 


The angels are no more nor less than men, who by some power, 
Have come to earth all through the past — like drops before our 
shower. 


The Patriarchal age has past; the Apostolic gone; 
Now the Angelic Age has come — we plainly see its dawn. 
The chureh has always talked about “a Glorious Millennium,” 


But now it dawns they cast it off; as did the Jews Christ’s king- 
dom ; 


ie Common Sense Theology 


But who shall stop the world’s advance, and say we have no right 
To welcome angels to our homes, though come they in the night ? 


And then again who dares deny but what we have a right 
To peep into the other world, if angels hold the light ? 


Who doubts our right to send a thought o’er telegraphic lines ? 
Then why doubt men the angels’ plot to reach our earthly minds ? 


As well to doubt our right to ride upon a railroad train, 
As doubt our right to learn of heaven, whilst we on earth remain. 


“ All hidden things shall be revealed and crooked things made 
straight,” 
So prophets wrote long years ago, and shall we longer wait? 


But evil spirits come, they say, on purpose to do harm, 
Don’t listen to them, priestcraft says — it sounds a loud alarm. 


But don’t the Bible rightly say “Try ye the spirits well? ” [tell. 
’Tis “ by their fruits ye shall know them,” and thus their mission 


"T would not be strange if some do come on purpose to deceive ; 
We’ve many spirits yet in flesh whom we cannot believe. 


How likely, then, if death does not purge men from all their filth, 
The evil come as well as good, to rob of virtue’s wealth? 


But every man’s a pair of scales by which to test all things — 
A reason-principle within, which truth from error brings. 


Let him but exercise this gift which lifts above the brute, 


He’ll step one side, let nature work, nor nature’s laws dispute. 
Should those of old dream dreams, see visions, and talk with 
angels, too, [ view ? 
Whilst we way down the stream of time ive nothing like this 


Has eighteen hundred years done nought to spiritualize the race? 
Oh! what a comment this upon our ministers of grace? 


Ten thousand temples o’er the land point upward to the sky, [high. 
Yet not one ray of light brought down through angels from on 


And why ? they’ve closed their doors for fear the Devil would 
come in — ; 
The angels knock and knock again, but no attention win. 


At last they turn away, and look for shelter out their pale — 
Among the lowly find response — then churches turn and rail. 


One devil a legion now becomes; and mediums are their tools, 
“Given o’er of God as castaways, poor heretics and fools.” 


They seem to show as much disgust at modern manifestations 
As did the Scribes when Christ first came, at his good intentions. 








in Rough Shod Rhyme. 75 


But that religion which would drive the angels from our doors 
Might crucify that Christ again, or drive him from our shores. 


What meagre signs and evidence the churches now afford 
Of faith in Christ, the healer, according to the Word. 


"Tis there declared, explicitly, of those who do believe, 
These signs shall surely follow them; but how do they behave? 


The casting out of Devils — the speaking with new tongues — 
And the healing of the sick by the laying on of hands— 


They say is through Beelzebub— as did the Jews of old — 
The great unpardonable sin — by Mark we’re plainly told.* 





Then hush! ye priests, do not despise those wondrous little raps ! 
To list‘ning souls, so sweet a sound ne’er parted mortal lips. 


These tiny raps have touched a cord, strung in the human breast, 
Whose vibrations will fill the world, ’till every soul is biest. 


But what’s the good to be derived from angel-visits now ? 
They did their work long, long ago, the churches do avow. 


Some work they did, we do believe, but still they’ve more to do — 
The creeds to burn, and on the winds their ashes they must strew. 


The devil they have got to kill—and shut that awful hell — 
Make God a universal Friend —let him with nature dwell. 
Partialism they have got to change to universal love — 

Election give to all mankind — make homes for all above — 
Such homes as each may labor for while here on earth we dwell, 
But none so God-dishonoring as creed’s eternal hell. 

The Bible they. must lower down to nature and to science ; 

Those errors they must all uproot which progress bids defiance. 
The fall they’ve got to change to vise, redemption they must show 
Is not in blood, but in the truth — this all the world must know. 


Depravity and sin they’ll show is nature undeveloped, 
“Total depravity ” has got to be to creed’s perdition galloped. 


In fine, the whole of old theology has got to be revamped ; 
The angels say man’s soul should be no longer by it cramped. « 


My soul, with promptness, says, Amen; good spirits do your best ; 
We who have welcomed you will help, and time shall do the rest. 


* Mark iii. 29, 30, xvi. 14-18. 1Cor. xii. xiii. xiv. And lots of other places. 


76 Common Sense Theology 


What about Special Providence ?— Was it God or was it 
Diphtheria ? 


One Charley White of Scotia — a man of some repute — 
Though not so very pious, as would the church folks suit, 


Had a gladsome little family, of children three or four, 
Ou whom he fondly doted, as fathers have from yore. 


But there came the foul diphtheria — that terrible disease — 
And by the throat it seized them, as if ’twere death ’twould please. 


And when the first had fallen — was ready for the hearse — 
There came a troupe of churchmen to sympathize, of course. 


They told him not to murmur, for God knew what was best — 
Had taken him from troubles here to dwell among the blest. 


The father bowed beneath the stroke, thinking, perhaps, ’twere 
Gave up the little sufferer — with angels let him go. [so, 


For others, yet untaken, looked up and called him “ Pa,” 
And he clung to them more fondly, now death had made a jar. 


But soon another says, “J’m sick! dear papa, get me well.” 
Yet, spite of all his love could do, the bud of promise fell. 


Again the churchmen said, “ Be calm — bear ye affliction’s rod — 
The Lord gave life — he takes again, and blessed be the Lord. 


* Your child was but an idol, sir — you may have loved too well — 
And God did him in mercy take to save your soul from hell. 


“Or else, perhaps, he saw ’twould make, if suffered to remain, 
Some desperate, wicked, ugly wretch, an infidel — Tom Paine! 


“You know you never joined the church, nor bore the Christian 
name, 

And for this reason we’ve no doubt the king of terrors came. 

“ We know you've lived uprightly, but that won’t save your soul ; 

You’ve got to join the church and pray before you can be whole.” 
But ere the father’s tears were dried another pants for breath — 

The churchmen’s God had seized the third — was choking him to 
death. 

But while he lay a-gasping, White’s comforters did pray 

Their God to leave this suffering one, in mercy turn away. 


They told him two’s a plenty to take from out one home, 
Lest the father get distraéted, in sadness ever roam. 


They told the father he must pray for God to stay his hand ; 
The father said, “I have no faith, you Christians should command. 





era eee en ae 








in Rough Shod Rhyme. 77 


“If you are righteous, your fervent pravers may save my dying boy ; 

If not, then cease your mockery — through you I get no joy.” 
Then the churchmen fell to praying with all the faith they had ; 
But ah! diphtheria heard them not —it would not leave the lad. 

In spite of prayers, and tears, and groans, it glazed his little eyes— 

Disease would do its ugly work, and away the spirit flies. 

Then while around the coffins the father wept and wailed, 


They told him still “ God took the child,” though all their prayers 
had failed. 


“Miserable comforters are ye all! your God you make me hate— 
An infidel you'll make of me — [ll sooner trust to fate, 





Than trust the God you worship — he’s worse than none at all — 
He bids you pray ’thout ceasing, but never heeds your call. 


That God who rolls the planets ne’er learns of such as you; 
And those who change his purposes, methinks, are very few. 


My children died because disease disturbed the laws of life, 
And little good your praying’s done to stop the physical strife. 


Pray leave me, now, and let me mourn as suits my nature best — 
I’m sorely tried, or ve gone so young — but bless them they’re 
at rest. 





And if there’s immortality, no douht they’ll have a share ; 
And when disease shall send me on, they’ll surely greet me there. 


But oh! my hearth how lonely !— how much Ill miss my boys — 
Their absence will, most cruelly, curtail my earthly joys. 


O! what shall take the place of them, and fill this aching void? 
How ruthless is that fell disease — how fatal is its word ! 1 


It has robbed me of my jewels — it has palsied all my joys — 
It has loosened all the cords of life, by smiting down my boys. 


But Ill never think a moment God strangled them to death 
By any special providence — DIPHTHERIA took their breath. 


And should the fourth and last one be smitten as the first, 
Don’t tell me God has done it, unless you would be cursed! « 


And as for that religion which you would have me seek, 
’Tis but a puny substitute —— may answer for the weak — 


But to save the lives of children it isn’t worth a straw ; [ law. 
Your prayers ne’er moved the Infinite — God rules the world by 


What folly, then, what folly ’tis to pray against God’s laws ; 
Would these my children lie so cold without some physical cause ? 


Don’t tell me God was jealous of my sprightly little boys, 
And because I loved them dearly, cut off my earthly joys. 


78 Common Sense Theology 


My heart was fashioned for his love, by nature’s knowing hand, 
And for this rational pleasure I never can be damned. 


So, leave me! leave me to my fate! [ll bear it if I can, 
But will not do as you have done —I rather be a man — 


Let God alone to rule the world by laws in wisdom laid — 
’Tis deeds, not prayers, which save the soul, though loudly they 
are made. 


If any lesson I’m to learn from this destructive blow, we 


‘Tis this — that neither love nor prayers can save us here from | 


But knowledge of the laws of life will aid us if we please ; 
God never takes till physical laws are outraged by disease. 


And then God takes them just because they’ve nowhere else to go, 


But hands them o’er to angel friends in spirit-life to grow. 
Yet better far ’twould be for them to tarry on the earth | 
Till ripened earth-experiences give manly spirit-birth.” 
Thus spake this much-afflicted man out of his welling heart, 
And thus the churchmen — which think you acted the wiser part ? 


Do you incline to think him rash — unchristian in his mode? 
I'll further plead his common sense against your Christian code. 


Does God control by providence? or does he rule by law? 
Does knowledge ever save from ills? ‘or isn’t it worth a straw ? 


If knowledge eer prevented death, and who will dare deny, 
Then providence has been forestalled — this proves it but a lie. 


"Tis nothing but pure selfishness that claims God’s special aid — 
That arm which bears creation up, lean on, be not afraid. 


Our priests must answer for the death of many a mother’s child, 
By holding them in ignorance of nature’s laws defiled. 


They cause the mother to think her child was taken ’cause she 
loved it — 
That God was jealous of the babe, and so he came and took it. 


The little child whose thread of life is snapped by want of care 
“The Lord has taken, bless his name, away from evils here. 


The mother’s heart with anguish wrung, is told to dry her tear S, 
“ Let God’s mysterious (?) providence calm all her wicked fears.” 


Instead of hunting for the cause which robbed the child of life, 
They take for granted it was God, and so they end the strife. 


The mother sings, “My babe is gone to bliss beyond the skies, a 


Dear Jesus took my darling child where pleasure never dies.” 


And Jesus will your next one take, it would not me surprise, 
If vou don’t Nature’s laws obey, he’ll rob you of your eyes. 





ee ee ee i Seppe el ae ee 


i ——s 
~ ae - = oe 


i 








in Rough Shod Rhyme. | 79 


There’s one thing though he cannot take — and that’s your com- 
mon sense — | | 
If nothing he from nothing take — what is the recompense ? 


There must be great infringement on the laws of health and life, 


Or else God's special providence with death is strangely rife. 
One half the race is swept away before the age of five ; 
The other half, by special grace, is barely kept alive. 


The Psalmist says man’s age shall be some “ three score years and 
But Providence has cut ace to less than half since then. bien 


’Tis evident, the greatest cause is foul religious teaching — 
For want of knowledge how to live, mankind are sick and dying. 


Yet pulpits harp and harp on faith, till pews believe a lic, 
And trust so much in Providence they wonder, gape and die. 


But can it be that God would call such men to preach his truth 
As cannot see in broken daw the death of all our youth? 


If God controlled this world of ours by special acts of grace, 
Would he allow presuming men to smite him in the face? 


If ever God put forth an act, outside of law, with man, 
Then God, methinks, would shut the door of such a vatican ! 


“ Be fruitful thou and multiply, replenish thou the earth ” — 

Is God’s command, and Bible’s, too, and yet he slays our youth. 
This idea-true, the murd’rer, then, should not be blamed at all, 
If he a fellow-man should slay, your God was in the fall. 


And when ye hang him by the neck till he is “ dead-dead-dead,” 
And send his soul direct to hell, who in this matter led ? 


If God takes one then he takes all, or he is not consistent ; 
Christ. Jesus never kills at all, for he is non-resistant. 


Again, if Providence controls the life and health of man, 


What good can learned doctors do? — pray tell us if ye can? 


Is baby sick ? — how quick you run to call the doctor in. 

O! save, dear doctor, save, you cry !—and you'll a laurel win. 
Ah! why not send for praying priests to call upon your God 

To stay his good afflicting hand — his “blessed chastening rod ” ? 
That priests should call for doctors’ help is strangely inconsistent, 
That they’ve no faith in prayers for help is thus made evident. 


It makes the doctors chuckle well to see the people bound 
By superstition and the priests, while they their pockets sound. 


It gives a chance to hide their guilt, and cover their ignorance, 
When they a patient kill or lose, how “ striking ” is the providence ! 


80 ; Common Sense Theology 


Does any doctor read, who thinks, Iam somewhat uncivil? | 
Then I'll apologize, and say, you’re a necessary evil. 


Would I could say as much of priests, I cannot see their use, 
Unless it be to show the world how truth can stand abuse. 


And what the use of canting priests around the dead and dying 
T cannot tell, but this I know, it seems like sacred lying. 





When death shall come to summons me to God’s great spirit realm, _ 
Pray curse me not with formal prayers, but let that hour be calm. — 


Let no officious priest be there to steady the ark for me — 
God’s laws produced my being here, the same must set me free. 


Let no discordant friends be there to ruffle up my Jordan; 
I would not be from any cause rushed over on a sudden. 


I’d have my mind so calm and clear, so free from anxious thought, 
That I could hear the Boatman’s oar when first he started out. a 


I'd list to hear the voices of the dear ones gone before, 
As o’er death’s placid stream they come to greet me on this shore. 


V’d watch the gracious process while death sends me out of this, 
Into that more abundant life where angels live to bless. 7 ; 
; 


I'd have the chore’s of life all done — my enemies all forgiven — 
And not a useless dollar left to hold me back from heaven. 


I’d have my friends all willing to let the Boatman come, | 
And with their cheerful blessing leave, for an honest angel home. 


Don’t taunt me with the canting phrase “ Have faith in Jesus Christ,” 
I'd have a faith in all that’s good — in love for it would rest. 


You'd better ask if Jesus Christ has any faith in me? — 
Imputed righteousness, I wot, did ne’er a soul set free. 


So when I reach the angel realm I hope to find God’s laws 
More truly known and heeded there, unsoiled by special flaws. - 


All special providence, I deem, has origin with spirits — ‘ 
Those in the flesh or out the flesh — there rests its only merits. 4 
All through the past, the same as now, the angels have been doing 
What ignorance ascribed to God — the church is still pursuing. ; 


But thanks unto the Hydesville raps, they’ve rent the veil in twain ~ 
That hid the hand of Providence ; — to me the thing is plain. 


What about the Devil? 


* You have no Devil, sir,” says creed, “in your theology, 


There ¢s one — the Bible says so — what’s your apology?” 


V’ll tell you plainly what I think about this foe of man . 
Who figures so in Scripture Creeds, and Ail/ him if [ can. 








‘in Rough Shod Rhyme. 81 


I know he’s had a mighty power dn substance or in shadow, 
Ever since the world began, but Row? and why? and wherefore? 


Now let us try to analy%e his body and his mind, 
And see how much reality we in this monster find. 


* According to the Bible codes he plays the fiendish part — 
Gives battle to Jehovah — his field the human heart — 


He goeth to and fro the earth — walking up and down it — 
Roaring like a beast of prey— seeking to devour it. 


Sometimes crawling on his belly — hissing venom like the snake, 
Sometimes shining like an angel — to allure the prey he'd take ; 


Always benton man’s destruction with a will that knows no bound, 
Home in hell — yet ever present — in the air and on the ground. 


Born in heaven, too ambitious for his jealous ruler; 
So out he thrust him down to earth, he’s the * Dev’lish Feller.” 


Now, to revenge his pater-noster, for this act of degradation, 
He resolves to spoil earth’s children — lead to hell, and sure de- 
struction — 


And with wisdom quite deific schemes to spoil God’s first-born pair, 
Slyly creeps into the garden, watching every movement there. 


Shows himself a cute observer, arch and subtle does he plan, 
Perfect Adam must be booty, nothing less than God’s first man.. 


Takes the time when God is absent, O, that wise that wily ser- 
ent !— [ reason — 
Hisses forth that subtle poison which perverts their untrained: 
Charms the woman — gains her favor — gives her fruit of pleasant 
flavor — | [had ’em. 
Which she tastes and gives to Adam — both partake, and then he 
Thus he taints the very fountain; every child is his at birth ; 
God must have a new creation, else his kingdom’s little worth. 
Strange he did not stop their breathing, just take back the life he: 
Better for to make another than the rotten try to save. gave 3. 


Adam, surely, was not perfect, else he had not disobeyed, 
And the threat’nings of Jehovah were against himself arrayed. 


Well, Jehovah did repent him, in the book we read it so — 
Got disappointed in his Adam — or the smartness of his foe. . 


Whereupon he tried a deluge, with a will to cure the fall, 
But preserved the rotten fountain with the Devil in it all. 


And when he said “ Be fruitful, Noah,” music ’twas to Satan’s ear, 
Ten to one must be his ratio, much to hope and what to fear.” 


6 


a” 


‘This devil’s but a scare-crow ghost to keep church sinners still. 


$2 > e Common Sense Theology. 


All his subjects filled with evil — all unsound from head to foot— 
Loving, too, their hellish: lead hating heaven all to boot, 





Now, judging from his past success, who knows but what he’s 
God . . | 7 3 
And plays this farce to win the world to his behest and nod! aha “i 


Well, ever since my mother taught me of a God that rules the 7 
world, : 


I have wondered why this Demon was from out of Heaven hurled! ~ 
And allowed to tempt the woman — Mother of an unborn race — — a 
Such an action, (priesthood pardon,) always seemed a God’s dis- 

grace. .% 7 4 
If God was love, as mother taught me, wishing well to everyman, 


Why send a devil to corrupt him? Where’s the goodness of this 
plan? | 


Was it wise or just to send him out of heaven down to earth ? a 
Why not keep him, O! Jehovah! in the land that gave him birth ? 334 


Either thou didst fear his power, if in heaven he should stay, 
Else for man thou’dst no compassion—rather doubtful either way. 


Thus my youthful mind was troubled, Reason ever asking why? 
But my riper years protested — O/ that devil! what a lie! 


Now the Devil question’s settled — not a single doubt remains — 


- Ne’er a devil had existence only in distorted brains. 


’*T was ignorance of God and man that gave the devil being, 
But as the light of science dawns the devil must keep fleeing. 


‘The uncontrolled propensity of heads too full at the base, 4 


Answers well to all the devil that ever cursed the race! a 


The science of Phrenology cries, away, deific devils! 
Unbalanced heads and ignorance cause all our moral evils ! 


Phrenology gives man the power to bruise the serpent’s head, E P 
For those who heed its teachings of devils have no dread. 


It shows us why it is so hard for some to do the right, 
And teaches us the remedy — increase of moral light. nee 


When man shall see his interest in duty’s honest claim, 
He'll do the right most willingly, though Devil be his name. 


Phrenology gives man the key with which he can unlock 
Full many “a hidden mystery” of old theology’s stock. 


But e’en without this science, Reason says, the Devil isalie, — s 
"Tis time that such a falsity give up the ghost and die. et 


If God be God, why let him rule, and govern as he will, ae 








in Rough Shod Rhyme. 83 


If God be the primeval cause of all things now, existing, 
The devil is a child of his —just stop your priestly twisting. 


And if what’s made by God is good, as the Scripture’s plainly 
~ show — [yous 
Why call the devil such hard names? — he’d a higher birth than — 


And must be useful in his’ sphere — for all things have their use — 
And churchmen ne’er should slander him nor trout him with abuse. 


No saint could ever get to heaven if the devil didn’t tempt him, 
How ungrateful then it is to nickname and belie him. 


Why not shout good, blessed Devil, servant of the God of grace, 
Thou dost tempt Sand try our virtue, make us strong to run the race. 


Away, this Devil! he’s but a myth belonging to the past ! [ last. 
‘Science and reasou have wrought a Shalt ACh binds the cur at 


And bound he’ll lay a thousand years, as prophets have foretold, 
He’s done his work, now let him rest in superstition’s fold. 


Our, God ne’er made a rival foe to cheat him of his due, 
Nor fixed a little heaven somewhere to suit a chosen few. 


He’s All in All, forevermore, the loving friend of man, 
All devils dwell in ignorance where priestcraft leads the van. 


_ There devils reign, perhaps they re needed, childhood wants must 
be supplied, 
But when grown to manhood’s stature, baby clothes we’d cast aside. 


Fighting fictitious devils might do for Bunyan in his cell, 
But we've a nobler work to do — the real truth to tell. 


The Christian code as taught by creeds has got the devil in it, 
And must be purged or reasoning minds will still incline to shun it. 


That mighty scare-crow priests set up to frighten in the lambs, 
Has served its time, and must go by, like other priestly shams. 
Tis Reason’s work to touch the match to devils made of straw, 
And clear the way so all can see that Wisdom rules by law, 


That Heaven needs no Cloven-foot to bray, or roar, or hiss, 
But men of brains with loving hearts to teach, to work, to bless, 


To ascertain the laws of God — the causes which produce 
The weal and woe of human life — and stay the sad abuse 


Of Heaven’ s highest gift to man —his reason —and to show 
How ignorance and priestly rule have kept the race so low. 


And furthermore to rid the world of that depr essing thought 
About inputed righteousness which by the Chureh is taught, 


And prove to them that every act must get its due reward, 
That good for good, and bad for bad, is “God’s eternal mode. 


84 Common Sense Theology ee 4° 


; ; % 


What About an Endless Hell ? 


The Devil’s home — where is the place— come Orthodoxy tell— — 


You've preached it long all o’er the land — where ¢s your burning 
hell? 
Your endless place of suffering, fh be beyond the grave, 
For so many wayward children, God has no grace to save, 


Is burning up its brimstone — losing its odorous smell — 
Its contents have been analyzed — Science breaks its spell. 


The intellect of this late age, this great discovery hatches, 
That brimstone has its finest use in well-made lucifer matches. 


And were it scarce progressive minds would form a corporation —* 


Build tunnel railroads down to hell and dip it from perdition. , 


And should they find the Devil there, a writhing in this treasure, 
Their sympathies would hoist him out and give him a ride of 
pleasure. > 


Your hell has swashed a blazing sign of superstitious dread — 
A libel on the God of love —a stigma on your dead. 


Still I ne’er saw but one poor soul who really seemed to think 
There was a hell beyond the tomb where souls forever sink. 


And she, poor wretched thing, was a Calvinist minister’s wife — 
This awful dogma she had heard all through her married life. 


The horrid thought that any soul would meet this awful doom, 
Preyed on her feeling mind and sent her rashly to the tomb. 


When I saw her she’d given up this heaven to try to win, 
And feared she had committed the unpardonable sin. 


She walked, and groaned, and wept, and sighed, — she was & 
mortal wreck — 
Ere long, her friends her body found suspended by the neck. 


If hell was hers she wished to know it — suspense was worse than 


death — .. [ breath. 
With her own hand she fixed the rope which stopped her mortal 


In an old barn around a beam, the fatal knot she tied — 
Then gave a leap as if to hell —to find her God beliéd,. 


To find her devil was the nan she’d lived with as a wife, 
And that God’s hell had nothing worse than Calvinistic strife. 


Show me the man who does believe in future endless hell 
T il show then & maniac —he ean’t be sane and well. 


Could fathers and mothers joke and jest with-children all exposed ?- 


Or nap it in the meeting-house if hell for theirs wa’n’t closed ? 








in Rough Shod fhyme. - 85 


Do ministers who stand between the living and the dead, 


Believe that hell is gaping, while they shout for bread ? 


Ah me! where is the man or woman that has a friend in hell? 


“That place was made for other folks, with ours it must be well. 


And if-a churchman lose a child that has not been converted, 

He finds some peg on which to hang his hope, howe’er distorted. 
O! the age of hells and devils is coming to an end — 

To hasten on the gladsome time my powers Ill gladly lend. 


If strait’s the gate that leads to life, and few there be that find it — 
If few are saved and many lost as follows close behind it — 


If broad’s the road that leads to woe, and many enter there, 
God is a Demon to create and multiply despair. 


* Be fruitful thou and multiply,” is then a vile command, 
Hiow hell believers reconcile I cannot understand. 


But if you say that every act receives its just reward, 
To win us back to virtue and lead us up to God, 


Then we'll kiss the hand that smites us, because it swings in love, 
Shout hallelujah to the Lamb, and to his host above. 


What About the Fall? — 


The Fall of man — what is this fall we in the Bible find? — 
Did God get careless — drop his work, and mutilate man‘s mind? 


Or did he stand his infant child upon some dizzy height, 
And say, “Stand there, you helpless worm, ’thout any oversight? 


“J want to see if you can’t stand upon accountability ! 
Now if you fall you do it on your own responsibility ! 


“ The tree of knowledge ye must not touch, for ignorance is bliss ! 


Now if ye touch it ye shall die, or live in great distress!” 


So there he stood in blank amaze, nor dared he move at all; 
But by and by God fixed a plan that made poor Adam fall. 


He put the serpent on his track — the subtlest of his beasts — 


' The devil —G'od’s greatest enemy — this cannibal he feasts. 


But God had set him up so high the serpent could not reach, 
So gave the apple to his wife; then she to him did preach. 


~.* Come, Adam, eat, O! do,” she says, “the serpent says ’tis good, 


Will make as like unto the gods!” So Adam said he would. 


Then Adam ate, and down he fell! O! what a mighty fall !! 
Millions on millions dropt to hell!!!— But Adam did it all. 


& j a 


86 ~» Common Sense Theology 
The Rec Seat then was muste® of the whole. bf Adam’s race, [face " 


God cursed the*ground —the woman’s seed —- then hid his loving — 


But God repented by and by, he feared he had done wrong 
To crush the whole of Adam’s race and make the devil so ‘strong, 


And give him such a mastery o’er all his handiwork, 
And leave himself but second to the devil, through this quirk. 


So to redeem from Satan’s hands whoever might be willing, 
He gave himself a sacrifice, but Jews must do the killing. . 

O what a farce! O what disgrace men heap upon the Lord! _ 
What childishness ! what vagaries! are conjured from the Word. 





And then to think that there are men in this enlightened age 
Who will stand up on Zion’s tower and preach it every page = 
a 


Is quite enough to make one sick, and wonder what is man? 
Who can believe such called of God to preach his truth, who can? 


Who could not stand his serpent. test, so cursed him from his birth: = “a 


But he, repenting this rash act, resolved to save a part 


ar 
if 
To sum it up it looks like this: — God made a man ofearth : 
a 
By his own blood, so raised the Jews to pierce him to the heart. . 


. 
Now, if you don’t believe this rig, why, “go to hell,” your pl ace, ~ 
“ No other virtue can avail without believing grace!” ~~ a 


“O ye blind guides!” ye ranting priests! every time you preach 3 
You slander God, yea, worse than that, his wisdom you impeach, » 


As though he did not know enough to make man right at first— 
With him was so dissatisfied, this poor lone worm he cursed. 4 


But after thousands of years had passed, he hit upon @ plan\: <a 
To finish the work, so incomplete, so long before began. be 


How was it done, ye modern scribes? tell us the wondrous’plan. 
“THE MIGHTY MAKER MADE HIMSELF INTO A MIGHTY Man!” 


But this was not enough, it seems, himself he then must kill! ‘a 
To lift the curse on Adam laid, placed there by his own will. ; 


And still your plan is not complete, ye leaders of the blind, re te *. 
There’s only now and then a man ye say God’s heaven will — tae 


So when ye pray, ye pray as though the devil had the most,* 
And when ye sing, ye sing as though he meant to elear the coast. 






‘@ 


“ Why was I made to hear thy voice and enter while there’s room { = * 
While thousands make a wretched choice, and rather. starve than, a 
come? ”— Watts. : a 


Yes, well you ask, Why was I made to enter: while there’ s room, 
While thousands live ’thout power to move, benumbed by- Adam's - «td 
doom? é / eae ke 





in Rough Shod Rhyme. . 87 


Could not God’s wisdom fix to suit his own capricions mind ? 
What! after making, calling good, then cursing do we find? 


Could the Infinite Architect be pressed to such a need * 
As to curse the ground? its tiller too? curse all the woman’s seed ? 


You'd laugh to scorn the man.that would be cur sing what he'd made ! 
What nonsense; then, to preach that God a curse on earth hath laid. 


How can you feel secure and trust that God with your salvation, 
Who was no better satisfied than he with his creation? 


Hen if you have the evidence his‘grace hath made you clean, 
He may get angry, cast you off, and think you are too mean, 


Repent himself, and make a flood, to drown you out of sight, 


Or make you wish, like poor old Job, you'd never scen the light. 


Or “send you strong delusion that you may believe a lie, 


That you may be damned forever.” Oh !—" How is that for high ?” 


Ah! better now to change the term. Say, How is that for low? 
When thousands of the © God-ordaihed ” ‘dare preach such things 
are so! *) 


I would that I could seal their lips, and save their future blame ; 
They must now talk against their light, and hence their coming 
shame. 


It can be nought but partyism that preaches thus to-day — 
_ The loaves and fishes must inspire the most our pulpits say. 


What about the Resurrection ? 


The Resurrection— how is this ?— will these earth-bodies rise ?— 
After rotting some thousand years, they'll be a splendid prize. 


Shall God, who always has and will work by specific rule, 
Gather together man’s rotten dust to house again this soul? 


Methinks *twould puzzle nature’s God to form again each frame 


Just like the old original, in every part the same. 


Variety is, ’tis plain to see, the order of creation, [ tion. 
There’s chance for doubt if each would get again the same forma- 


Who ever knew a tree to fall, turn back again to earth, 
And then another just like it on that Same spot have birth? 


Men’s bodies often feed the plants, and they in turn feed men ; 
This renders it impossible that each rise whole again. 


Then where’s the soul from time of death until the body rises? 
Tis all unhoused; and how it lives, creed tells not, but surmises. 


Some say it goes back to its God, from whence at first it came ; 
But others say it sleeps away the time between — that’s tame ! 





88 | _ Common Sense Theology * 


If like the first, we’d lose ourselves like rivers in the ocean ae <3 
But who feels isk: to be lost, though Paul might preach the 
notion? - 


For Paul, you know, wa’n’t always sure he wrote by inspiration ; : 
And it may be he wa’n’t inspired about the resurrection. 


& 
Man shrinks and shudders at. the thought of such annihilation ; ‘ 
How beings live without a form is beyond comprehension. “a 


If in the grave man lies so long, ten chances, then, to one, ~ | ¥ 
He'll always lie, and endless sleep dooms eyery earth-born son. 3 


Paul thought it quite essential we should all die to live, aa : 
But when he came to talk about Christ’s coming to receive, | ’ 


He saw that those then on the earth would have no time to sleep ; 
This homely fix wrought up his soul, and maybe made him weep. 


en 
ES 


He thought again, and then he says, “ Brethren, we sha’n’t all die, 
We shall be changed.’ ’—TI guess we shall, “in the twinkling of oe 
an eye.” ‘ 


Paul had a glimmer of the truth, but couldmot see ha whole— = 
Saw flesh and blood could not inherit the kingdom of the soul. - 


But how the spirit got its form — its selfhood and its shape — — 
So we could tell each other there — was more than he could make. 


Now, don’t it seem more rational that when the body dies 
The spirit-form comes out of it and then begins to rise? 


Had Paul have seen the butterfly come out the homely worm, : ik 
He must have seen that bodies may have form within a form. 


Clairvoyance, with its spirit-eye, declares its power to see a 
The spirit’s body organize, when death the soul sets free. | % 
Sometimes the amputated limb, when cramped as laid away, 3 : 
Gives pain to its possessor— why? Here’s what we have to say : 
Because the spirit-part within has not yet left the limb, 

But when it has, the limb will have no feeling unto him. 


When death occurs by violence, the body holds the spirit wt 
Much longer than it does do when slow diseases free it. 3 


The raising of man’s body has-no place in nature’s teaching, 
But rests alone on ignorancey or unsound, Pauline preaching. ‘oe 


Paul wrote quite well— the best he knew — we like this great 7 
apostle, | | a 
Because he dared to reason some — our rights he does not jostle. oA 


Now, we’ve as good a right’as he to tell the world our faith, == = 


Though it may differ some from him, ’tis what our reason. saith. ye 
: . ae 





¥ 





Shall science, well established 
Because recorded in the book, is that a proof for all? 





- 


‘in Rough Shod Rhyme. 89 


, give place to Preacher Paul? 


Has human reason nought to do with what the Bible teaches? 


Shall God in nature cease his work when Saul of Tarsus preaches? 


Nay, nay. Let every reasoning soul doubt every Bible saying 
Till he has gained his evidence that it is truth portraying. 


What about the Deluge ? 


The Deluge — that tremendous flood that swept all o’er the earth 
And choked to death all: living things that ever did have birth, 


Except old Noah and his wife — his sons and sons’ wives, too, 


And beasts and birds of every kind, in order, seven and two, 


‘Is now by science set at nought, and proved to be a fable, 


For Noah’s ark wa’n’t big enough so many beasts to stable. 


One hundred fifty thousand beasts, twice told, says history, 
Must have been cooped in that small ark, but how’s the mystery ? 


Noah and his sons, with their four wives, could not deal out the meat 
To such a mighty beastly host; it must have been a cheat. 


Tt covered up the highest mount—and spread all o’er the world — 
Some five miles deep it must have been, by science we are told. 


Whenee did it come and whither go — the water for the flood? 

Hight times as much as earth contains, all tinged with human blood. 
Can priests now say it must have been a miracle wrought by God 
To cleanse the earth of wickedness, and hence he spake the word 


As wher*he brought creation forth — from nothingness it came — 


Then spake again, and back it went to nothingness the same? 


Would God have taken all this pains to rid the earth of men 
Whom he had made, bid multiply ? — is God so fickle, then? 


Once more we ask, how, could the beasts from every different ¢ lihie 
Have stood the change, all smothered i in, for such a lengthy time? 


And when the ark had rested on Mount Arrarat, where sent, 
What journeys some must have to take to find their element! ! 


All this is easy to’ the creeds —for they ne’er ask the how? — 
Impossibilities they cast on’God, and then they meekly how. 


O how nvenient ’tis to have Omnipotence to aid, 
When cornered they at once reply, “ Phe Lord Almighty said — 


—_— 


Let earnal renson hush its claims! be still! believe the book 
God works in a mysterious way —ye need not think to look 


4 


con) © & 


90 | Common Sense Theology ae 


Into the secrets of the Lord, though they be all revealed, — 
’Tis quite enough for you to know the book by God was Soules a 


we 


As though one’s eyes should be shut up to follies of the past, 
Nor dare to question how the creeds have blown their blasting blast 





s: 
val 


To cap the climax, see the bow, painted by Jehovah, 


Set in the clouds to let them see the floods are all gone over, 
That bow, true science knows was set, may be millions of years 
Before the time that Noah lived, so we may yet have fears. a 
F é ee 
For floods of water may be changed to floods of “flaming fire,” 
And this shall be, so Peter says, when God shall come Inire. 
+ ¥ ata 
O, ye unreasoning Bibleites! how strange you cannot see i) oe 
That God is Good! and Good is God! =o albeternity.gryer ss “3 
How strange that you can all believe in Peter, James and John, j 
And not believe those Sciences which truth declares her,own ! “¢ 
How strange that men of olden time, unblessed by modern science, “a 
Can hush your reason, blind your eyes, and bid the trath defiance! + 4 
I cannot well account for it but by transmission rules — My 
You're born and bred in mystery — hereditary tools. a 
; " 
x ¥ ™ 
What about Public Prayer? ty 
7 y ‘ I 
‘¢ A thousand knees, ki = 
Ten thousand years together, naked, fasting, Re 
Upon a barren mountain, and still winter, . . 
In storm perpetual, could not make the gods r ‘ny 
To look the way thou wert.” — Shakespeare. 4 
‘ + @ 2 
Was Shakespeare right? Does God hear eae 3 and answer as 
men call? ‘ <a 
Or does he rule unchangeably, though nations rise or fall? q 
If change is not God’s attribute, as taught by every sect, a 
If he in wisdom rules by law, then Shakespeare was correct. —~ ~ 
i ¥ 
If God is loving, just and wise, and knows each heart’s desire, ime 
What pleasure « can it be to him to hear a formal prayer? : ae d 
If all our hearts are open to the view of Deity’s eye, , ae 
Of what avail to make a prayer, and maybe tella lie? __ we 
If God’s decrees are just and true, nor can be otherwise, ©. mee q 
And if he be unchangeable, what folly to advise. ' _P ; 
If God does know our inmost thoughts, our wishes, wants and. * 
eae 
woes, . a 
< 


What foolishness at stated times to tell him what he howe Ae 






If order be the law of heaven, as all God’s works bespeak, (Greek. - Hr 
No Priest can ever change God’s plans thoes he should pray in ~ 





‘7% : 
in bcs Shod ee 91 


Shall man dictate unerring will, and alter wise design ? 
Be this presumption far from me — let God in wisdom reign. 


_ Suppose that I should pray for wet, my neighbor pray for drought, 
Could God, though he be infinite, give answer to us both? 


Shall I, then, on the public ear-my wordy prayers intrude, 
Whilst Jesus tells me when I pray, to go in solitude? 


The great Exampler always sought some silent mount for prayer ; 
Not e’en the loved disciples must approach his sacred lair. 


Shall I, my neighbor, pray for you? how know I what you need? 
Will God withhold what you deserve should I not intercede ? 


And then, again, if I should pray for things you are not wishing, 
And God should hearken to my prayer, should I not then be 
meddling? 
When by my drink your thirst is stayed, my hunger by your food, 
Then, pray for me with all your might, your prayers may do me 
good. 
Till then, withhold your prayers for me and work your own salva-. 
I choose to trust in Providence without your intercession. [tion, 
Hence, in your councils with the Lord, I pray let me alone, 
And let his will be done to me in pref’rence to your own. 
Though you should ne’er advise the Lord, I will not be afraid, 
For God’s no wiser when you're done than ere you prayers were 
made. 
Tf I by sinful actions have deserved afiliction’s rod, 
Will prayer defeat what justice claims? shall man o’errule his God? 
Will whining prayers persuade the Lord to set aside his laws? 
If this be so, then no more say effect must follow cause. 
Now when we break the laws of health, and pain and sickness 
come, 
Will prayer atone for these misdeeds, or ati we doctor some ? 
When one gets wounded in the flesh, or, falling, breaks a limb, 
Who takes to prayer to heal his wound, will fare him rather slim. 
So when we disregard a law pertaining to the soul, [ whole. 
Though we should pray till judgment-day, ’twill never make us 
If we can break one righteous law — without us or within — 
And praying will remove the curse, then prayer’s the price of sin. 
There’s no devotion, some men think, without much boist’rous 
prayer ;° 
And. it would seem they also thought religion ended there. 


92 td Common Se ne Theology 


Let my ee be adjudged by deeds of duty done; ; 
This is the prayer which pleases both the Father and the Son. 


Shall I distrust and doubt my God by bending servile knee? 

_ That mercy I to others show, my God will show tome. 
The prayer of action is the prayer that God delights in most, 

"Tis doing good to fellow-man that brings the Holy Ghost. | 

The prayer of action all can make, and get an answer, too, — 

God helps the man who helps himself, in every point of view. — 

The prayer of action moves the world, it breaks and tills the sod, 

And such, though made by infidels, will be received by God. 


If prayer availed the husbandman he’d need to work no more, 
But when he wished for bread or wine, why offer up a prayer. 


The bread of life will no more come by wordy, formal prayers, 
Than harvests rich will come to man without abundant cares. 


But windfall blessings those obtain who only pray to get them, 
But those who wish for wormless fruits have got to chim and peck 
them. he 


Shall we be carried to the skies on ators beds of prayer, 
While Jesus fought to win the prize, and worked his way up there? 


This begging favors of the Lord is but a shirk’s device, . 
For blessings are not truly ours until we've paid the price. 


Think not on knees of slothfulness to merit grace divine, 
The utmost farthing must be worked ere blessings rieh are trite 


The reason why some pray so much and do so little work, 
Seems founded in economy —’tis cheaper thus to shirk. 


4 


Whilst others pray because thy’re taught that heaven is won by 


prayer, 
Yet all their actions Aptis prove they’ve little treasure there. 


Some men we know, whose lazy prayers have risen night and 


morn 
Yor scores of years, and yet their lives are fi uitless ad forlorn. 


If all the-time that’s been used up in wordy, formal prayer [wear. 
Had been employed in search for truth, ‘what diamonds we'd now 


When I believed in special g erace, my prayers were then so many 
That I had been an Astor now, had each one brought a guinea. 


Bnt still I hardly gained a sou'until I ceased to pray [vocally]. 
Let reason, not ‘blind faith, take helm, then life began to Pay: 


One reasoning thought about the tr uth will set us farther on’ 
Phan months and years of pene prayers unto the great Unknown. 


, : ‘ aie 
Fah) 
* > ea 
ee cli F 
ae, Da) 








‘in Rough Shod Rhyme. : 93 


All public prayer works mischief to the tantenened mind, 
a7 indicates that God has gone and left his work Honma: 


If,God is not removed from us and we in him do live, 
Why call aloud to have him come? and thus the soul deceive? 


Enter ye into your closet if you’ve business with the Lord, 
He can hear you, e’en in whisper, and will openly reward. 


If God now speaks with still small voice unto the hearts of men, 
Should man in speaking back to him be loud and boisterous then ? 


That parent must have felt rebuked, whose young one dea his 
prayer — 

“Why need you pray, Pa, quite so loud, if God is everywhere? ” 

_ What folly! O! what folly ’tis to pray against God’s laws. 
We'd better whistle, sing, or laugh, or play with childish toys. 

Pd rather hear a Dutchman swear, when honest impulse moves, 

Than hear that priest make formal prayer, whose friendship no 

* one craves. 


And which think you is worse, my friend, to pray without good 
thought, 

Or swear, by foolish habit moved, ‘thout meaning any hurt? 

Swearing is vulgar, low and vile, and should be shunned by all, 

But formal prayers are mockery, and hypocrites must fall. 

All public praying, Christ condemns, and would you pattern him? 

Then ddn’t ask me'to ape the priest, I can’t, it would be sin. 

Of what avail the Pharisees prayer, “Stand by ye sinners poor,” 

Whilst prayers from smitten breasts alone can open heaven’s door ? 

The greatest prayer that e’er was made by any mortal man, 

Ts that which cries from.inmost soul, Thy will, Great God, be done. 

Such prayer as that gives passiveness, prevents unwise dictation, 

Smooths out the wrinkles in our souls, and saves from all distrac- 
tion. ® | 

What other prayer ‘can benefit while this one is not felt? 

What heaven has that mortal reached whose soul to this ne’er knelt ? ° 

When this is made in honesty, what need of any other? 

This ever present in the soul gives hope and trust forever. 

There was a time when prayer was power, in ages past they say, 
When priests had but to say.the word and planets would obey. 
Then, in revenge, a prophet prayed that rain might be denied, 
And not a shower refreshed the earth till he was satisfied. 


There fell no rain upon the earth for two and forty months, 
Or till Elijah prayed for it, when down come rain at once. 


04%): Common Sense Theology 


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: y ¥ ? * mer: \. o az 
x 4 ra _* 

7 , ‘ ae w &y 
. . 5 ¢ 
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R - é be 

ay Pe 
be 


God’s not so prone in later times to let men have their say, 
May be the God that served the Jew is not the God to-day. e 


Else he, the sceptre Israel shared, resolves to hold alone, © ~~ 
So taking it from Jewish priests now wields itas hisown. * 
At any rate there’s been great change, it now to none is given  — 
To stop the planets in their course, or call down fire from heaven, 


Or make the sun retrace his steps—or calm the sea when tossed — 
Alas! the art of powerful prayer is now among the lost. 


How church folk do content themselves with answers they now get, 
To prayers by millions which they make, seems marvellous as yet. 
Their faith is less than mustard seed, or else they pray amiss, — 
If answered prayer gives evidence, they’re far away from bliss. 


How strange they should so blind themselves with useless forms 
and fears ; 3 
Why can’t they see their god is dead, and has been many years? 


Christ killed the Jewish God himself, when he was on the earth, 
And made a Father for the good, now All-in-All has birth. 


This All-in-All by law controls ; — deals out no “ special grace,” 
To Jew or Gentile, black or white, but labors for the race. 


Let partial saints still preach and pray till they get wearied out, 

They will, at length, find God in law, and turn themselves about. 
Their asking blessings over food is childish, say the least, 

The hungry stomach knows no God except the ready feast. 


If blessing-seekers never found dyspepsia in their dish, 
Then they might hope by saying grace to gain their every wish. 


God puts his blessing on our food while in the field it grows, 
And he who seeks a second bless a selfish spirit shows. 


If God’s first blessing isn’t enough, let all the gathered stores 
‘Be blessed at once, and thus save time to do more useful chores. 


Returning thanks for what has come in pleasuré to our dish, 
Is not so inappropriate ; be as thankful as you wish. a 


Baptizing, too, is empty show of meckness rarely lived, 
And by it many a graceless saint has thus the world deceived. 


All those who trust in empty forms and think B: aptism meet, 
Should carry out then all commands, and wash disciples’ feet. 


The last command should be obe eyed as promptly as the first, . 
For both alike are Bibleized — be faithful, or be cursed. 


Ah! ’tisn’t because they wish to do whate’er the Seriptures say, — 
But more because ’tis popular — the fashion of the day. 


: a ¢ 








in Ltough Shod Rhyme. 95 

. Away 1A forms — I’ll heed them not — they mock my freeborn 
soul — . [ whole. 
Ten.thousand such, though holy HER can’t make one sinner 


These outward forms must. all die out, as men progress to see 
That virtue, not profession, is the badge of all the tree. 


What about the Good Time Coming ? 


O! for that good time coming by prophets well foretold, 
When truth shall havé more value than the richest mines of gold, 


When wisdom shall be chosen in preference to wealth — 
When man shall stand in manhood, in perfect moral health — 


When love shall be more potent than powder guns and balls — 
And virtue so attractive men listen to its calls — 


When all shall take more pleasure in doing others good, 
Than in heaping mighty treasure, presuming that they could — 


When all of man’s possessions shall be given up to God, 
And ev’ry real want supplied through the treasury of the Lord — 


When brains and muscles, equally, shall unite in love to bring 
The highest earthly happiness out of every earthly thing — 


When all the gifts of Providence in body, head and heart, 
Shall be cast into the treasury and each one share a part — 


When all these things shall come to pass through man’s unfolding 
powers — 
When man’s ambition shall find vent in lifting np his neighbors— 


When love shall be the great exchange, and goodness sought like 
- gold — | 

- When honest purpose for the right shall make men wisely bold— 

Then will riches cease corrupting — then will poverty stalk no 

more — | 

Then will every earthly blessing for each one lie in store. 

Then will all men be as brethren who wear the human form — 
Then none can see another unsheltered from the storm — 

- Then there’}l be but one religion, and that the law of love — 
Then every thirsting soul shall drink from the fount of life above— 
Then cannons, swords and muskets, all useless, will be made 

Into implements of husbandry, the plow, the hoe, the spade — 
Then all the standing armies; so useless but for hate, 

Shall return to peaceful duties within the,cities’ gate — 


JO = | Common Sense Theology i 


Then marriage will be snictiiotte Heaeen the highest ¢ oift of God, 
The holiest of. holy things — most sacred to the Lord — : 


Then every’ man and woman will in harmony so mate, 

That lust, ashamed to enter, shall stop without the gate — 

Then holy lives and unions shall beget a nobler race, 

With more perfect brains and bodies and more comeliness of face— 


Then the laws of propagation will be fully understood, , 
Then mothers all shall glory much in children wise and good — 


Then true maternity shall be the crowning joy of woman — 
Then through her shall the race progress to manhood scarcely 
human — . 


Then so healthy and so happy will the children be by birth, 


They will scarcely need converting while they tarry on the earth. . 


Then the laws of health and diet will be so fully known 

By the power of clairvoyance, that the race will scarcely groan — 
Then the science of mechanics will be brought to such a state 
That everything that’s needed will be made at rapid rate — 


Then will labor be so equalized that every one shall find 
Leisure well to cultivate and beautify the mind — 


Then those hurtful competitions which now prey upon the poor, 
Shall be turned to aspirations for the lovely and the pure —. 


Then all the many evils which come of selfish power, — 
Shall be cast into the background, and the heavens on us shower 


The graces of that kingdom where goodness crowns the king — 
Where all in love so harmonize that every one can sing — 


Then the wicked gease from troubling — then the weary are at. 
rest — 
Then the martyrs will be coming fr om the regions of the blest, 


To sing a song of triumph with the sainted ones of earth, 
O’er the downfall of Babylon and a holy nation’s birth — 


Then the prophets and apostles will visit earth again, 

To see this New Jerusalem and sing a glad refrain 

O’er the triumph of their mission in bringing men to see 
That justice, love and purity alone can make them free — 


Then order, peace and harmony shall reign throughout the land, 
Then every human being will in joyful freedom stand = ° 


Then, O then! ye longing ones, will earth’s Millennium be — 
Then, O then! but not till then, can Earth the good time see. 


lin aye 





in Rough Shod Rhyme. a7 


What IS Absolute Justice ? 


Pure Justice cannot come 6 earth,till this great truth is known — 
That no man has a right to call a thing he has his own. 


And more than this, not e’en himself — both he and his are God’s, 
His brain — his thought — his work — his life —his purse — his 
all — the Lord’s, 


Which should be used not for one’s self, but for the good of all, 
So each may taste the happy fruits of the wisdom of the whole. 


What else can answer the demands of conscience ripe, in man? 
What else can bring the worlds release from jargon, but this plan? 


ust think. Some have the power to make a fortune in a day ; 
But do they, therefore, own the right to squander as they may? 


Divinely they have not the right, for neighbor brothers may 
Be tugging with a right good “will for pittance, day by day. 


God’s laws, combined with circumstance, have given all they’ve 
Hence justice says their duty is to share the common lot. —[got; 


Think. None have ever made themselves, then why should they 
be proud? [ crowd ? 
And if they’ve only what’s been given what right have they to. 


The poor man were the rich man’s self if born and bred as he, 
And if his chains do not bind him fate only makes him free. 


What meanness then to grind the poor with circumstantial favors ! 

What’ meagre manhood those possess whom justice brands as. 
shavers ! 

Shall poor men’s muscles always be the means which brains shall 
use [ choose ?” 

To arm themselves with golden swords to smite with when they 


Good men forbid, and teach the world more brotherhood, more love, 
More sympathy — more juszice, too — like that enjoyed above. 


Men’s brains and muscles equally should strive in love to bring: 
The highest earthly happiness out of every earthly thing. 


And all the gifts that all possess in body, head and heart, 
Should build up common treasuries, so each may share a part, 


According to their needs and wants, as wisdom might declare, 


Then none would suffer — sufeit none — ’tis justice thus to share. 
Then riches could-no-more corrupt or poverty curse men more— 
Then every-earthly blessing would concentre there in store. 


Then hearty love and high respect would be the great reward 


Which genius and self-sacrifice would get for doing good. 
i 


- 


98 : — Common Sense Theology, etc. 


Reward enough for any man — the highest to be given — 
Eternai justice would be there to compensate with heaven. 


“But how shall such a work begin? the world’s in selfish rage, 
And none but gods can run a life upon this level gauge.” 


Ah! there is where you make mistake, ’tis like the common 
school— ° 
Self-int’rest yields the motor power when it has learned the rule. 


The work is easy when men’s wills are ready for the plan, 
Impossibilities are scarce when union shouts — “ We ean.” 


The rich and wise should band themselves in brotherly alliance, 
And deal out wealth and wisdom to all who would affiance 


According to the golden rule — that bond of honor given, 
Which keeps the lines of duty clear, and opes the door to heaven. 


Let those who won’t, stand back awhile, and eat the fruits of vice, 
Tili strength is gained to conquer them with love and wise device. 


Such efforts did they fail, perchance, would honor every heart 
Throughout a whole eternity for action on their part. 


But such no need to fail at all with love and wisdom rife — 
For justice says the thing must come — there must be truer life. 


Aud progress says we can’t stop short of scientific living — 
Pure love must be the great reward for getting and for giving. 


What meagre joys have those whose aims all end with lower self, 
Who never reach the blessedness of doing good with pelf. 


Hark ye, the time is not far off when none shall be called great 
Whose powers are not used -for good, in private or in state. 


-Man’s selfishness is soon to take a higher selfish stand, 
And bless ttself by blessing others — it waits the true command. 


Self-int’rest, well enlightened, is the power behind the throne, 


Which will be used to bring about this greatest work yet known. 


Self-int’rest builds our factories and runs them day and night — 


Self-int’rest gathers armed hosts and leads them forth to fight. 


Self-int’rest does, ’tis plain to see, do all our grandest things— 
-Gets up our State and Worldly Fairs and then our Gilmore sings. 


Self-int’rest will, when it shall see how people ought to do, 
Compel itself to organize, and put communion through. 


‘Well martialled, it shall tramp right on through all opposing powers, 
_And plant itself in Canaan, where Justice builds her towers ! 








A Critique upon the Creeds. ~ 99 


PART II. 


A CRITIQUE UPON THE CREEDS, 


Whence come Bibles? 


All Bibles are but portions of the world’s religious history, 

While searching for that hidden life beyond the veil of mystery. 
They all grow out of man’s top brain, inspired more or less, 

By angels from that hidden life, who’ve sought the race to bless. 
In every age there have been souls who soared to meet the gods, 
Who drank in light, as earth drinks rain, and hence all written. 
All men expanded soulfully feel nobly tow’rd their kind, [ Words, 


‘And hence to give the blessing got, impelled each lofty mind 


To shed the light it had received on others favored less, 

And thereby help to purify and elevate the race. 

Grand truths are never well received, at least not well enjoyed, 
Till they are given forth to bless; this kept their pens employed. 
This holy feeling brought the Ghost that gave them inspiration, 
And something like it must be felt to get the interpretation. 


Ail Bibles Assume to come from God. 


The Koran, Shaster, Zendavesta, all had origin the same, 

And all ambitiously assumed the Great Jehovah’s name. 

And all have more or less of truth, with more or less of error, 

They've all been spiced with special grace, and fortified with terror. 

They all reach forth, beyond the tomb, into the great hereafter. 

They’re all in search of that grand life which frees from all disaster. 

They all announce —“ Thus saith the Lord” —“ Believe or else 
be damned.” 


_ They all forget that reasoning souls cannot, perforce, be crammed. 


They all appeal to Wonder, and not to Reason. 


They’re all perplexed with mysteries, with visions queer and crude, 
With wonders that must come to:pass, somehow, none understood. 
They often contradict themselves through lack of apprehension ; 5 
Hence biblical expounders are chuck full of their dissension. 


_ The great mistake with all has been in claiming special favor 


Of him who rules alone by law, and hence their writings savor 


100 Common Sense Theology. 

Of cgotistic piety — of much uncandid zeal — 

Of condemnation killing fierce, without a due appeal 

To reason, or to common-sense —a sad mistake, ’tis plain. — 
Hence reasoning men reject them all, that is, they do in main. 
They cannot now be awed by books with reason set aside, 

_ For reason is to test all things, whate’er the church betide. 


Our Bible may be the Best of Them. 


Our Bible is the best, we think, yet that is much at faulf, 

And Reason has, in every age, had reasons for assault. 

Yet every part bears marks ‘of heaven, as well as taints of earth ; 
And men should sift it carefully, there’s much in it of worth. 

Its preservation through the past remarkably declares [and tares. 
That wheat was sown, and groweth well, though chocked by weeds 
It hath some salt within itself, whose savor can’t be lost, 

To tread it blindly underfoot, is not to count its cost. 

It is no proof of purity to harp upon its faults, 

For wicked men can criticise, and weak ones make assaults. 

Nor is it sign of holiness, to call it all infallible, 

Neither view, with honesty, can ever be compatible. 

Its themes in gen’ral, are so far above men’s common walk, 

It shows us most conclusively, ’tis something more then talk. 
There is no book I’ve ever read, of thoughts and deeds so variable, 
That is more honest all the way thro’, than that old book the Bible. 
No book can give us better proof — so hoary are its pages, 

Of angel life and ministry, than comes through its old sages. 


Its Writers were mostly Noble and Talented Men. 


Its writers, for their times, wern’t men we moderns need dispise, 

They were so honest in their zeal they rarely would disguise. 

All deeds of darkness, well as light, were honestly revealed, 

No matter if ’twere priest or king, they must not be concealed. 

They-called things by their rightful names, they rarely glossed a 
thing, 

No bogus virtues would they pass, each piece must have the ring. 

Aye, Moses and the prophets were accused of many acts 

That must have deeply humbled them, according to the facts. 

And so with Paul and Peter, too, the Psalmist and his son, 

And so with all but Jesus Christ, whom prophets said should come. 


Christ Jesus the most Gifted and Purest of Bible Men. 


He spake as never man had spoke — no guile was in his mouth — 
His equal had not walked the earth, for purity and truth. 

Aye, aye, so pure a man was he, so much in love with good, 
Earth had for him no resting-place — men clamored for his blood. 











A Critique upon the Creeds. 101 


And’twwn't enough to kill him quick, and hush his prayerful breath, 
But nails, and thorns, and mockers, too, were present at his death. 
They gleried in their power to kill the man who was so pure 

As to mirror all their sin-sickness, although he showed the cure. 
His presence was a live rebuke to all those priestly quacks, 

And they must get him out the way, or else confess their lacks. 


Thanks forthe Light Revealed through His Life and Death. 


Yea, thanks to God for the light he shed on Calvary’s bloody mount, 
For through the veil, thus rent, we see the never-failing fount. 
And thanks again, no tomb could hold a spirit so refined. 

For forty days he showed himself to his clairvoyant friends, 

Then passed into that spirit realm where Moses and Elias lived, 
Where all the good and true had gone since man was first conceived. 
No doubt he reigns a leader there, because so intuitional, 


He comprehends the wisest rule, through fitness constitutional. 


A Godly Man, but not the God. 


A godly man, indeed he was, but not the God, to me, 

An Elder Brother, woman-born, and: Wonderful was he. 

A Prince of Peace — A Counsellor, but not the Mighty God, 

A blessed Teacher full of love, but not the Logos Word. 

A Saviour, he may well be called, because he showed us how 

To save ourselves the quickest way — stop sinning — stop it now. 


Love God or good with all the heart — the neighbor as one’s self, 


5 
Resist not evil but with good, nor hanker after pelf. 
Do unto others as ye would that they should do to you, 
Be gentle, true, forgiving, good, and God shall bring you through. 
His blood which bathed the r ugged cross proclaimed a soul sincere, 


A love for truth sublimely grand —a faith that conquered fear. 


His Temptation in the Wilderness. 


A God methinks would ne’er have need to be tempted of the Devil, 
Or held a fast of forty days to fortify ’gainst evil. 

But being man, ’twas fit indeed, to seek some lonely place, 

And probe himself in every part, and get the needed grace 

To fill his mission handsomely, and make his life complete ; 
Bold Pharisees were on his track, their vengeance he must meet. 
They’d make of him a temporal Ising, and give him worldly power, 
But he preferred that spiritual reign which gives a richer dower. 
Like Moses, he would sooner be afflicted with the good, 

Than have renown from wicked men, tho’ anxious that a should. 
And having got the mastery, his faith was then so strong [wrong. 
He felt he might make bread of stones, but checked himself ; twas 
He felt so str ong a confidence in angel power to aid, 


oO 
He might jump off the temple-top, and never be afraid. 


102 Common Sense Theology. 


But no, his faith must never be in useless ways employed, 
He’d aim to conquer sin by love, though his body were destroyed. 
He’d show a pattern for the world, and for all coming time, 


For Jew and Gentile, Heaven and Hell — for every age and clime. 


Heaven is Founded on the Truths Christ Taught. 


I glory in his soulful life, Soha much so ere [I fail, 

ard him f set sail. 

The rules he gave “to bias, piinaote was governed by, 

If only Gods could keep them, why ask of men to tye 

His life was so exalted, so great his moral worth, 

He reigns the King of Heaven, no doubt, in spirit King of Earth. 
To him all human knees should bow, and every tongue contess, 
Because his single soulful aim has always been to bless. 

No soul can fully enter heaven that does not bow to him, 


Or to the principles he taught — Heaven founds itself on them. 





Woe to the Pharisees. 

That stone from out the mountains cut, must roll and fill the earth, 
And woe to each proud pharisee, who scorns the humble birth. 
And woe to all those hypocrites, who make the outside clean, 
And for pretence make lengthy prayers, while inwardly they’re 

mean. _ [down, 
All those blind guides who strain at gnats, and swallow camels 
Must steep in woe, and get reformed, not one in heaven is known. 
They’ll have to wander through the vale of deep humility, 
To get that lesson all must lear n— complete fidelity. 
Not every one that sayeth Lord, Lord, shall enter into rest, 
But he who clings to principles — he only can be blest. 


Full Fellowship with Christ no Trifiing Thing. 
Full fellowship with Jesus Christ can be no trifling thing, 
Our gold, untried, and full of dross, don’t give the heavenly ring. 
Tis not enough to have a lamp, unlighted, without oil, 
No one can borrow, none can buy, it comes of hearty toil. 
A. time of recompense must come, to show just who is who; 
Let each take heed and ask himself, have I a ticket through? 
Have all my sins gone on before to get the judgment check ? 
Or do they hang all guilded o’er like millstones round my neck ? 
Clairvoyant eyes will pierce us thro’, and show each hidden part, 


So no disguise can pass the gate, we must be clean of heart. 


No Pomp in Heaven. 
There'll be no driving into heaven on horseback, or in coach, 
No trappings of distinction there, will dare to make approach. 
The king and beggar, great and small, must travel side by side, 
There is no room in the narrow way for pompous ones to ride. 














His mission was to break the sword, and rule by love, not mi 


A Oritique upon the Creeds. 103 


Master and slave, people and priest, trot-equals through the gate, 
And all who shun the lowly ones must stand without and wait. 
To gnash the teeth will do no good, nor yet to weep and wail, 
To enter in, be done with sin, good speech will not avail. 

The symbol of a little child guides all who would not wait, 

For all the truthful cuileless. ones will find an open gate. 

None others need apply themselves — the fruitage of the spirit 


Is love, Joy, peace and temperance, none others can inherit. 


No Heaven without Humility. 


Repentance and humility alone can clear the way 

For saving truth to enter in, and fit us for that day. 

Everybody must be broken, (so the gospel teaches, ) 

Whene’er we fall on the great Rock, Christ, we shall be: dashed to 
pieces [humbled] ; 

But if we fall not on the rock, let me say it louder, } 

Then the rock [truth] must fall on us and grind us into powder. 

Not for revenge will this be done, but for our spirits’ freedom, 

So that the truth may reconstruct, and fit us for the Kingdom. 

He that o’ercometh, bear in mind, not his weaker brother, 

But his own propensities may reign with Christ forever. 


4 


Faith Nought without Obedience. 


No faith in Christ is worth a groat that does not mind his teaching, 
Christ has no friendship but with those who after truth are reaching. 
His intuitions broke the shell of popular appearance, 

And showed the kernel, which alone is worthy of acceptance. 
The Church to-day seems satisfied with nothing but the shell, 
They glory in appearances, and think that all is well. 

The weighty matters of the law are passed in silence by, 

Whilst the vaguest superstitions are lauded to the sky. 


Christianity has no Place in War. 


The Church has had Christ’s gospel long, and ought, it seems to me, 
To be done with swords and musketry — in loving rule be free. 
Yet “resist not evil,” does not seem to have one morsel’s weight, 
For when Rebellion sounds her drum she’s ready for the fight. 
But let no fighter claim the faith once given to the saints, 

For if they do I’ll claim the right of them to make complaints. © 
Christianity has no place in war — its Founder would not fight — 
oht.. 


ro) 


“My kingdom is not of this world,” says the man of light, 

* My kingdom is not of this world,” else would my servants fight. 
Our worldly men must think it strange that Christians take the gun, 
And well they may, for Christians can’t—from blood all Chr istians 


run. 


104 | Common Sense Theology. 


But die they can as Jesus did, yet kill they can’t, and live, 

No dear old flag is half so dear as the Master whom ’twould grieve. 

Shall Christians kill, while the Master prays, all bloody on the tree, 

And not for self, but enemies — the world from blood to free? 

Don’t talk of Christian liberty, that’s won by shedding blood, 

It smells of that old theory which saved the world by flood. 

And what is worldly liberty to dead men on the field ? — 

What heavenly merit can those claim who carnal weapons wield? — 

What glory, too, will those men get who preached in times of peace, 

That all men should lay down their arms, and prayed that war 
might cease? 

And yet went forth as chaplain priests, with promise of more pay, 

To beg the Lamb to help them kill their brethren in the fray ? 

How strange that both the North and South, in deadly fight arrayed, 

Should call upon the self-same God, whom neither have obeyed. 

How strange is that consistency which prates of an endless hell, 

Then puts the gun in sinners’ hands, saying “ Go now, die or kill.” 

They preach that even one poor soul is worth ten thousand worlds, 

If not redeemed before it dies 7n endless misery whiris. 

And yet they glory in that peace which comes of the endless wails 

Of sinners damned —shipt on to hell — while their praises filled 
the sails ! 

And once a year they go with flowers to decorate the graves 

Of soldiers dead, and gone to hell, their gospel never saves! _ 

O my! O my! are all men knaves and hypocrites, too? 

Or are they so unreasoning they know not what they do? 

If love is e’er to rule the world, ’tis time Christ’s Church began 

To show some symptoms of this rule—some faith in God or man. 


All Men should be Sons of God, or Good. 


Christ based bimself on principles so spiritual and true, 

Ife felt a oneness with his God — disciples ought to, too. 

Yea all men should be sons of God —be true to truth and right, 

Be all in love with God or Good —and so be full of light. 

“ Why of yourselves do ye not judge of what is true and right?” 

It was so plain, so clear to Christ, he wondered at their sight. 

As God is love, and rules by it, all rule should be the same, ~ 

Hence Christians must lay down their arms, or else give up their 
name. 

Christ lived 1» Nonconformist here, went forth without a creed, 

Said truth believe and truth obey, was all the soul could need. 

The reason why his teachings were so much about all others, 

He made them so self-evident, sincerity scarce falters. 





. 





A Critique upon the Creeds. , 105 


Ail Men are at Liberty to Pursue the Truth. 


As Jesus did not gauge himself by what the ancients wrote, 
He leaves all honest men the right to set themselves afloat. 

No creed derived from any book should bound a mortal’s sight, 
When intuition grasps new truth, rejoice, fling out the light. 
Don’t stop to see how well it squares with what the D. D’s s: Suy, 
They may may be only Pharisees, right in Jehovah’s way. 
God’s inspirations can belong to no one age or clime, 
Whenever souls can comprehend, that is Jehovah’s time. 

The fount of inspiration is ever on the flow, 


And blesses every nation where truth men seek to know. 


Our Bible not a Finality. 


If God intended we should put our confidence in books, 

How strange that Jesus never wrote! how wonderful this looks! 
The greatest Teacher that the world has ever brought to light, 
He, O ye book, ye Bibleites, he never deigned to write, 

But onee, and that was in the sand, and with his finger, too, 

Yet, said St. John, the world could not contain his history through. 
All principles are God-ordained, so find them where you may, 
Some truths apostles never knew are well received to-day. 

And every truth’s a Word of God—though wrote by Greek or Jew, 
And upright souls will never spurn what reason says is true. 
And all man’s teachings should accord with reason’s honest claim, 
Then reasoning souls receive the word without Jehovah's name. 
And he who teaches darkened minds to find a better way, 

Must be a Saviour, as was Christ, although he lives to-day. 

And he reveals the will of God who telis a truth untold, 
Although within the Bible-lids his name be not enrolled. 


Bible Creeds not Reliable. 


The Bible hath. its precious truths which all should love and heed, 
But ah! what errors, with those truths, are found in Bible Creeds. 
One proof is this—no two agree, this shows they’re not reliable, 
But one in all can be just right, and that one’s wrong, quite 
probable. 
And then again, they change so oft, they prove they are unstable, 
To keep along with unbound truth, they have a dreadful scrabble. 
Interpretation, as an art, they’ve made so india-rubberish, 
They find excuse for all thir change, in stretchy ancient gibberish. 
Christ bid the Jews to look and see old things had p: asset aw: tits 
He summed the law, the prophets too, in this one short essay :— 
Therefore all things whate’er ye would that men should do to you, 
Then do ye even so to them, Christ bids, leave old for new. 


106 — Common Sense Theology. 


The way the Fathers used to think is more to many minds 
Than truth itself, however grand, evolved in present times. 
But I for one must speak against this sickly veneration 

Of ancient faiths, instead of. truth, though brings it condemnation. 
As yet, the world, with all its books, gives but a glimpse of truth, 


Eternity may be too short to read the whole, forsooth. 


The Bible far from being Infaliible. 


Soniee seem to think all duty done if they but praise the Bible, 
While on its truths, self-evident, their lives are but a libel. 
The Chureh has claimed too much for it, and hence has laid it 
To great assaults from cavillers, completely unden uy yiGes {liable 
She’s said ’twas true from end to end —infallible ‘ 
Yet she’s a host of diff’ring faiths rejoicing in its light. [one ? 
Now why this host of faiths, we ask, when truth would have but 
God’s kingdom can’t be thus split up, nor Jesus Christ's, the Son. 
Then where’s sae fount, whence comes the stream, that flows a 
thousand ways? 
Is it the Bible ?— Can it be?— Ah, yes! true reason says. 
Why should a book with so much good as doth the Bible show, 
Be such a fountain of false faiths? Do you, my reader, know? 
Ill tell you, if you'll list to me, because it comes from God ; 
This is the reason, reason says, though you may think it odd. 
Men think, because the book doth say, * Thus saith the Lord, O 
Earth,” 
"Tis all God’s word, and must be truth—here isms get their birth. 
For as it has as many views — yea more than men who wrote, 
The question is, which part is right, no one the whole can quote. 
Hence each one takes some favored part, as suits his mind the 
best, | 
And says, “Pve got Jehovah’s heart,” —so battles all the rest. 
The platform laid — main bulwarks reared — all other faiths must 
bend, 
Then Neto: cry, “See my zeal, give ear, all men attend.” 
Then wring the word, and twist the word, and call it Bible knowl- 
edge, [ college. 
Doubt reasons right to question them, ’cause they have been to 
They never stop, or pause to see if Nature’s on their side, 
But cry out he’s an infidel, who dares the isms deride. 
So now the world is full of books to lighten up the Bible ; 
It must have been tremendous dark to sanction all this scribble. 
I wonder God ne’er thought it wise to brush them all away, 
‘And write a supplement himself, and make it clear as day. 
I cannot see what right he had to shroud things so in mist, 
That forty thousand writers should all fail to find the twist. 














A Critique upon the Creeds. * 107 


Since Bible Creeds oppose Each Other, We Dare Reject them All. 


Can Churchmen think it very strange while they oppose each other, 
That men of thought should candidly eschew them altogether, 
And hunt a faith in harmony with what they deem is right, 

And try to be consistent in whate’er they preach or write? 
Should any creed or book refuse a candid overhauling, 
Or any man keep back his light for fear of creedish mauling ? 
That man’s a child who dares not speak the truth pent up within, 
He hath no claim to honor’s name, who doth commit that sin. 
The man who dares not utter the promptings of his heart, 


. Because they are unpopular, acts but a menial part. 


Were all such slaves, how could the world be making an advance ? 
>] (15) 


By nature some are called upon to use the probe and lance. 


I’m one; hence I must probe and see if Bible Creeds are sound, 

Pure reason is the probe I use; the best that’s ever found. 

By it I'll show you, ere I’ve done, that all’s not gold that shines, 

The whited tomb holds dead. men’s bones, and so do creeds their 
crimes. | ) 

In order that the train of truth move onward free and straight, 

The track of errors must be cleared, then truth can take her freight. 

I know I stand a narrow chance to make a reputation, 

But what of that? J never cared but little about station, 

I’ve. rather cared to save my soul from inward condemnation, 

Act well my part on life’s great stage ’thout asking commendation. 

’T was the Church’s inconsistency that sharpened out the pen 

That wrote the first of all my rhymes. — Here’s what was written 
then : 


What Shall We Believe? or Where is the Truth ? 


THE AUTHOR’S FIRST POEM WRITTEN IN °b2, TWENTY YEARS AGO. 


Come listen, friends, with candor, too, to what I have to say, [| way. 
And when I’m done, then have your fun—if your inclined that 
The subject of my rough- shod rhymes is, What shall we believe? 
And if I tell, no doubt I shall some honest minds relieve. 

O! what a host of jargon faiths now in the world are found, 
They pile like Babel’s senseless tower, I would this host confound. 


Where-is-the-truth ? my heart now asks, and how shall it be found ? 
The truth I want, and nothing else, I love the righteous sound. 

My reason says there is nought else will stand ‘the judgment test, 
Nought else will truly benefit—without it who is blest ? 

Now what’s the rule by which to test all theories presented ? 

How shall we satisfy our minds, and make them feel contented? 


’Tis evident no theory’s true which contradicts itself, 
Nor can the truth be bought or sold; it has no kin to pelf. 


108 Common Sense Theology. 


-°Tis also true ’tis free to all, —’tis scattered o’er the world, 

In heathen lands, and Christian lands, Truth’s banner is unfurled. 
And it is true, that he’s not wise, Ne thinks he knows the whole, 
The Bible does not tell it all, nor satisfy the soul. 


Truth must be knowledge of God’s laws, as seen in their effect — 
The only way to learn the truth sure must be to dissect. [reason, , 
Our eyes, and ears, and intuitions, crowned with enlightened 
No other man must Master call— that, surely, would be treason. 
* Come let us reason, saith the Lord,” is in the Bible found, 

So you who think all Bible’s truth should meet me on this ground. 





The Bible of a reasoning God must be by reason tried, 
And if it will not stand the test, then God has been belied. 
Now let us ply this rule of faith while we dissect the creeds, . 
And see if they’ve enough of truth to satisfy man’s needs. 
If they are sound, they’ll stand the test like gold in fire tried ; 
But if they’re rotten to the core, then man has been belied. 


To some, what ’'m about to say may seem quite harsh and hard ; 
But judge not me, ’tis truth that cuts, for truth inspires the bard. 
One would think, to read the works of men of different sects, 
That each one had got all the truth, and others were all defects. 
A says, “Pm right—but B is wrong—my views are from the Bzbie; 
I know the Greek and Hebrew well—of course, I’m infallible.” 
But B says, “A is bookish wise, and has not got the Spirit ; 


I seek it from the Holy Lord—the truth, I, sure, must have it.” 
C says, “’Tis plain that neither one has got the real gist,” | 


So he gets up another book, full bigger ‘than the rest. 
And thus it is with thousands more, if I the whole could tell: 
“°Tis Lam right, my netghbor’s wrong—he’s on the road to hell.” 


‘As though the Lord would make a Book, and call it Revelation, 
Which none could ever understand ’thout thei demonstration ! ] 
Yet all do say that Book’s so plain, that “he who runs may read : ; 
Now, why ten thousand wordy priests to tell us what we need ? 
If wayfaring men, though.fools, need not therein be erring, [ing. r 
What is the need—pray tell us what—of so much Sunday-preach- 


If Bible truths are plain as day, revealed, made known to all, 
Why do so many preachers say they have a heavenly call ? [known % ? 
A call to what? make plainness plain? expound what is made 
O! can a good, consistent God such Creed-made folly own? 

Vil tell you what think their call—in these our modern times — 
°Tis to get fame—a rev’rend’s name—or else to coin the dimes. 


They say they are by Jesus called to preach the truth to man ; 
But, O Priest! is Christ divided? Please answer, if ye can. 

If Christ be God, and teaches you, why speak ye not as one? 

Why so many different ways from him, the only Son? 











A Critique upon the Creeds. | 109 


_ Ye all proclaim ye have the truth, right from the throne eternal ; 
But much ye teach, it seems ¢o me, comes from your pit infern: al. 


You'd have us think you were inspired to preach to fallen men ; 
But, pray, does inspiration need a week or two to pen? 

Should you do’s the apostles did, ne’er think what you should say 
Till in the pulpit you stood up, then could you make it pay? 
Nay, you'd be obliged, as Moses was, to get his brother Aaron 
To be a spokesman for the Lord—then, all could see the gammon. 


Ay, boastful man, ’tis time you ceased to claim so much of God ; 

He teaches you no more than me, though I may lift the hod. 

That honest soul who loves the truth, where’er it may be found, 

Is God’s high priest, most certainly, though he may till the ground. 

An honest man—God’s noblest work—will ne’er by Creed be 
cramped ; 

When progress opes new fields of thought, the Creed must be 
revamped. 


But Bible, not Truth, is your Te aent it ye build your thrones ; 
From thence look down upon the world, and hurl damnation-stones. 
Ye pelt the sinner till he feels that God’s his enemy ; 

That hell’s a-gaping for his soul, and there’s no remedy 

But to bow down to man-made Creeds, join our “ Church- Militant,” 
Or never need ye hope to reign in God’s “ Church-Triumphant.” 
Now, if ye taught us all alike, we’d think perhaps you’re right ; 
But, ah! ’tis this way— that—the other. O Heavens! what a 
sight! 

The Bible errs, else priests are vain, and should no more be heard ; 
The teaching of so many ways shows not the truthful word. [they, 
Still, one might think, to hear them talk, that all were fools but 
And pity for our dying souls had taught them much to say. 

But sect and money keep alive this mighty, wordy host ; 

’Tis not the love of our dear sowls—our pockets they love most. 


’Tis plain to see this is the case, for what else can we make? 

We know they always have a call where money is at stake. [back : 
Ten Dollars a day takes them away, but ¢welve will bring them 
Whatever church will pay the most is sure to hear their “clack.” 
Call them from less to more, ye may, but rarely more to less ; 
The instances are rare indeed, as they themselves confess. 





Did you e’er know a priest, well fed with barley loaves and fishes, 
To have a call to meaner fare, though urgent were the wishes? 
But when they see a chance to gain more of the shining dust, 
They have a call immediately. O, go they surely must! [gray ; 
There will they stay, church being rich, till age shall make them 
They little think what good they do, if they but get their pay. 
There may be cases this don’t hit,—“exceptions to the rule,” — 
But few are they, and seldom found, as noiseless boys in school. 


110 . 7 - Common Sense Theology. a 


That church thrives best, which has the most of money in its drawer, 

Although its Founder, Christ, perhaps, scarcely ever saw her. 

QO, what are churches, nowadays, but “ladies ” weekly “ fairs ” ? 

A place to show new styles of dress, trimmed with the utmost 
care | — 

A place for men to lay their plans, for week-day practice well ; 

To get some sleep, and gather strength to work, to buy and sell ;— 


A place for preachers to display, to make a grand impression ; 
Let people know they were not wrong in choice of their profession ; 
A. place where hypocrites may go, and don the garb of saints, 
And cover up their rotten deeds with whitewash and with paints. 
Look at the Church! how easy ’tis for rich men to get in! 

For them the door wide open swings ’cause they have got the én. 


But Christ, the faithful Teacher, says, how hardly shall they enter ! 
As camels through a needle’s eye — was Jesus a Dissenter? 
Could he now enter, as of old, our “Temples of Jerusalem,” 


These rich old sinners would cry out, “ Ain’t that Methusalem?” 


And should he now, as then he did, whip out the money changers, 
The very few that would be left would feel like utter strangers. 


What now’s the Bible but a book which crafty men may take 

To hatch up creeds, and prove them ¢rue, no matter what their make? 
And all these creeds it sanctifies, because they all quote from it; 
None can dispute but they are right, —for there’s the Bzdle for it, 
Unless one quotes another text which plainly contradicts it ; 


Then they’ll turn to manuscripts, and there they’re sure to fix it ; 


For in the old original, the words have so much meaning, 
They can be trained to prove a lie, by extra college learning. 
How, then, can we from priests expect a true enlightment? 
So long as they do not agree, we may from all dissent. 

As well to say that two and two make six, or eight, or ten, 


As say we get unerring truth from erring, differing men. 


With truth no man can reconcile all teachings of the “ Book” ; 
Too much of error is found there when carefully we look. 

So much confusion J find there, I dare not say G'od spake ; 
*Ewould be but mockery with me, and conscience sure would quake. 
Why! the Koran and the Shaster have thezr claims of inspiration ; 
And who shall say that they are false, when on the same foundation ? 


Dare we raise claims to special grace from universal love ? 

"Tis base and selfish, such a thought — it comes not from above. 
When God shall write a book for all — for each and ev’ry nation, 
Which shall compare each with the rest, have one interpretation, 
Then I'll believe God speaks to man outside of his Creation ; 

Till then each man may write and say, “Z wrote by inspiration.” 





a sa! 2 








A Critique upon the Creeds. til 


Now, God must be a partial God, to write the Jews a hook, 
Let all the world beside run wild, without a father’s look. 

And more than partial he must be, —a bloody tyrant, fierce,— 
To help them spoil all nations round, e’en little children pierce. 
God is not partial, reason says ; 5 his ischinie and his rain 

Fall everywhere on all alike — in India or in Maine. 

What nonsense, then, to shackle God, confine him to the Jews 
His blessings, yea, salvation, too, all o’er the world he strews. 


Ah! Nature is the only book God e’er has penned for man ; 

In it we all may read alike —dispute it ye who can. 

*Tis ever open, and has been translated once for all; 

In every dialect ’tis read, but shows no “curse” nor “ fall. 

The sciences its pre eachers s are, to teach us of that God 

Who never changes, ne’er repents, nor shakes a tyrant’s rod ;— 
A God who ever has and ever will maintain a righteous reign ; 


Who never has nor never will make human souls in vain. 


All nature shows that God doth reign omnipotent, alone; 

That there’s no Devil in the world to undermine his throne,— 
aac : eer ; 

To drag the beings he has made from earth-life down to hell. 
Thus cause, perhaps, nine tenths the race in endless flames to dwell ; 
It shows that all, in every clime, who bear the human form, 


Are children of .one Father, God, who rules and guides the storm. 


This “Holy Book” shows all are born to live beyond the tomb ; 
The white, the black, the red, the brown, have all alike this boon, 
A boon which all alike do crave, the foolish and the wise ; 

Man could not live without the hope of living in the skies. 
There’s scarce a soul that you will find, however sinful he, 

But doth forth-cast — beyond the tomb — into eternity. 


And rare it is you find a soul so deep-in filth and mire, 

But bath the hope God will, somehow, fulfil his soul’s desire. 
Would Nature give this ardent wish to have a home above, 

And God, its author, make a hell — when he’s a “God of love”? 
Ah! never will Z brand my God with such a foul design, 

Though all the creeds in Christendom may call the plan benign. 


The feathered songsters of the wood, untamed by any creed, 
Sound forth a higher note of praise than e’er from priests proceed. 
The falling leaf, “the murmuring brook, speak more to me of God, 
Than page on page of ancient scrip men style the Holy Word. 
The rustling corn, the waving grain — designed for man as food ; 
The various trees, with fruit well hung, say to us, “God is good.” 


The tiny plant, the opening rose, the sunshine from above, 
The gentle dew, the falling rain, a say that “ G'od is love.” 
The many bedsts and birds we see, sO various in size, [7s wise.” 


With man’s grand form and mechanism — how speak they ? “God 


112 Common Sense Theolog? Ye 


Those shining orbs in heaven’s blue vault, as mightily they tower, 
All rolling in 1 such harmony, proclaim that “ God is power.” 


The howling wind, the roaring sea, the blackened clouds on high, 

The lightning’s flash, the thunder’s crash, speak loudly, “God 7s 
nigh.” 

That dying man, by rum laid low, his brain all burning up 

With delirium tremens he has found in the accursed cup, — 

The high, the low, the rich, the poor, gone early to the dust, 

For breaking laws they should have kept, speak plainly, “God zs 


Hust. 


All history shows what’s very plain to an observing eye: 

Man’s a progressive being, sure, and hence says, Creeds must die. 

All nature speaks the self-same fact, and shows they’re not infal- 
lible ; [ probable. 

But one in all can be just right — and that one’s wrong, quite 

They change so oft they give us proof they are not very stable ; 

To keep along with science truth they have a dreadful scrabble. 


Yes, once the Creeds made earth stand still, sun, moon, and stars 

But now no such an idea can in any Creed be found. [roll round: 

The six days mentioned, wherein God made heaven, earth, and 
skies, 

Are now stretched out to ages long — or else poor Creedy dies. 

And science soon the Creeds will rob of super- -mundane miracle ; 

All this they fear, ’tis plainly seen they’re now somewhat hysterical. 


What will Creeds do when they shall see those wondrous things 
performed 

By nature’s laws, with spirit’s help? ah! think they’ll be reformed ? 

Or will they hang by rotten ropes, as did the Jews of old, 


To useless forms Sad creedish rites which now are dead aoe cold ?. 


Ah! can’t they see ’twill never do to take the helm from God? 
They'll feel, I fear, as did the Jews, his lawful chastening rod. 


The Bible must, like any book, be prized for what it’s worth ; 
But many things we find in there are subjects sure for mirth. 
We'll name a few, to let you see we don’t belie the book, — 


And others there you'll surely find, if carefully you look : — 


That mighty host of quails, for one, that came to Israel’s camps, 

Sent there by God to gag the Jews for asking meat, those scamps! 

Some thirty-three miles round they fell, some three feet deep or 
more ; 

How rich those rebels must have felt, with such a quailly store ! 

3ut hark ! what saith their God to them ?—“ Ye shall not eat one 
day, 

Nor yet two, nor ten, nor r twenty; ; but one wile month, I say, 

Till out your nostrils flesh shall come, so loathsome it shall be. 

With flesh unchewed between your teeth I'll add a Plague to ye.” 











A Critique upon the Oreeds. 113 


There’s Samson, whom God’s Spirit blessed with such inhuman 

He rent a dion as if a kid, and laid him out full length. [strength ; 

An ass’s jaw he took, and slew a thousand men therewith, 

And plenty lies he told his wife on purpose to deceive. 

Three hundred foxes, too, he caught, “ turned tail to tail, and tied ;” 

Then “ firebrands he fixed between,” that they might scatter wide 

Destruction. through “the standing corn” which the Philistines 
owned, ; 

To burn it up, and let them see that God with him was found. 


Delilah, Samson’s wife, tried hard by stratagem to take 

And bind him with strong withs and cords—but little did she make. 
She wove his hair into a web—“ [ve got ye now at last; ” 

But away went Samson, “web and beam ”—Delilah was too fast. 


At length “ * she shaves his seven locks,” in which his strength all 
" Philistines be upon thee now!” his wife in triumph cries. “Tlies. 
Pll go and shake myself, he said, when first he did awake— : 
He little thought God dwelt in hair ; but that was zs mistake. 
God’s Spirit with the hair had gone; he now was at their will; 
So they “ put out his eyes,” and then put him in “ Gaza’s mill.” 


“ Howbeit, Samson’s hair grew out again,” 


back ; 
Helped him to pull a temple down—kill thousands at one crack. 
No wonder such a man should wish to die and go to rest, 
His God his soul in many ways most signally had blest. | 
He’d slain his thousands, burnt up corn—had made a riddle too ! 
Without his help could God have ruled? Ah! men like him were 
few ! 


and with it God came 


There’s J onah, too, you recollect, who would not mind his God, 
And cry out against Nineveh—hence, feared his chastening rod. 
Poor Jonah filled a fish’s maw some seventy hours or more ; 
Digestion must have moved on slow, or flesh from bone had wore. 
A knowing whale that must have been, his God to understand, 
Keep ouilty Jonah there so safe, then vomit on dry land. 

No wonder Jonah thought he was deep in “the belly of hell ;” 
And when spewed out he must have had a terrible jishy smell. 


But time would fail us should we tell of Jehu, Josh, and Gid, 
For whom God worked with so much zeal, and promptly done 

* their bid. [ things ? 
O, can it be that Heaven’s High King would stoop‘to such mean 
This idea truly sickens me, and pure disgust it brings. 
The very thought that Nature’s King would bend to such vile w ays, 
To show the Jews that he was God, a sure foundation lays 
For Bigotry the most absurd, and partialism so base, 
*Twould rob the universe of rule, and God confine to place. 

8 


114 Lay Common Sense Theology. 


Yes, the Universal Father becomes a partial tool ; 

To bless some much, curse others more—does seem to be the rule. 

And had not Christ have contradicted this foul, this monstrous 
error, 

We still might have that Jewish rule—that awful reign of terror. 

And just so longas Christians go back to the Jewish Bible 

To get their notions of a God, so long Christ’s God they libel,— 


So long they may at slavery wink, and train up men for war,— 
So long they may the ardent drink, nor get rebuked therefor,— 
So long they may the widow rob, the ‘fatherless oppress ; 

With such vile patterns for their lives, how can men well progress ? 
O, what a blessing to the world if that old Jewish book 

Would sink into its proper place, and men to virtue look ! 

See, in that gentle Christ, the man that Bible put to death— 
Then say ye ‘love it, ye who can! O, brand it! reason saith. 


When will men read in Nature’s book, which always speaks 
the truth? [ youth? 
Nor turn from Nature’s God and say, Old Hebrews teach our 


_ As well to mount a horse, and say, “I’m bound for Kansas’ plains ; 

I will not trust your railway track, nor your expressive trains. 

For men that go out thus,” they say," do sometimes get ‘switched 
off ; ’ 

So I prefer the ‘good old way,’ though I catch colada and cough.” 

I think, sometimes, progressives should let them pounce on and 

Nor try to get them on the track, lest they our God belie. [die, 

But we may catch the youthful ear—put young ones on the scent 

To find eternal truths revealed in Nature’s Testament. 

Here is our hope for man’s outgrowth of barb’rous theology, 

When youth shall be instr ucted in Nature’s Anthropology. 


The Bible hath its precious truths, which all should love and heed ; 
But ah! what errors with those truths are harbored in the creeds. 
“The golden rule,” if well obeyed, hath in it truth sufficient 

To bind the world with cords of love to God, the Great Omniscient. 
“ Love thou thy neighbor as thyself” hath more of righé in it 
Than all the creeds of Christendom—the world begins to see it. 
Our God is love, so saith that book,—and Nature saith not other, — 
Let no man cail our God his Father, who calls not man his brother. 
And other truths are in it found, which love did well inspire : 

He who loves God, and loves not man, by Christ is called a liar. 


The Bible hath its errors, too, so plain upon its face, 
For me to call it all God’s Word needs extra * special grace.’ 

To say the Bible’s all God’s Word is slander on God’s name ; 

It makes a wrathful, fickle God. O, churches! blush for shame! 
It brings God down with erring men, and makes him such as we— 
Makes us poor rotten, dev’lish things full of [total] depravity. 











A Critique upon the Creeds. 115 


Such erring men write God a book, and call it “Holy Bible!” 

On every page write “Thus saith God”! “It is infallible ” !— 

When on that page, with these false words, are sanctioned sins so 
black, | 

A carnal king would blush for shame to have them on Ais back. 

There’s 7? ying, theft, adultery; there’s incest, murder, too ; 

There's rapine, war, and slavery — Is that God’s Word to you? 


God’s Word by man will always bear the mark of those who write ; 
If they are low untutored souls, then dark must be the sight ; 
But if their nature’s been improved by science, progress, art, 
Then God to such will be a God above the grosser part. 

’Tis plain the God of each and all must be as one shall think ; 


But Bibles of such made-up gods must in God’s nostrils stink. 
Peer 


All Bibles must be governed by Nature’s own developments ; 
Hence Nature should be sought unto above all Testaments. 
The Bible Word with Nature’s Word must never disagree ; 
If either falls, the Bible must — how plain it is to see. 

The Bible meaning has to be conformed to Nature’s science ; 


Hence cannot stand when men shall see that Nature bids defiance. 


What nonsense, then, to slander God —divorce from him his 
station. 

Where can ye find him, ask your soul, if not in his Creation ? 

Man must by searching find out God, or never will he know him ; 

He’s crowned with reason to this end — the Bible cannot show him. 

“ How can we reason,” Pope inquires, “ but from what we know?” 

Away, then, with that guessing part, which doth the Bible show. 


There’s inspiration, I believe ; whence comes it let us ask? [bask. 

From Wature’s Fountain —in its light both old and young may 

King David’s noblest thoughts of God, no doubt were well inspired. 

By what? By nature’s grand survey — ’twas this, his soul so fired. 

To nature all may look and learn, see more and more of God ; 

’Tis nature that man’s soul will free from flesh which chokes the: 
word. 


As yet the world, with all its books, gives but a glimpse of God ;. 
Eternity will be too short tu read the ‘Eternal Word. 

God’s being doth all nature show, and teaches his omniscience ; 
The heavens above, the earth beneath, declare his omnipresence.. 
But God, so wise, and mighty too, and everywhere so present, 
Must have some bounds, or else he’d be mighty inconsistent. 


God cannot contradict himself, nor make the sun stand still ; 
When he’s ordained that it shall move, be cannot hold at will. 
Hence God could not create the Earth, according to my view, 

A something out of nothing make? That God could never do. 
He formed the earth, there is no doubt; it shows his forming hand ; 
The laws he gave it operate in every grain of sand. 


116 Common Sense Theology. 


Now matter must eternal he, as well as God on high ; 

But Moses did not know this truth, I’ll tell the reason why : 
Because it was so much before the time in which he lived, 

Twas science that unrolled this truth ; ’twas not by him conceived. 
So Moses thought God spake the word, and straightway it was 


done; [Sun ?!. 


From nothing he a something brought, e’en Earth, and Moon, and 


But when God came to make a man, the noblest thing he’d made, 

He took a little earthy dust, of this made man, he said. 

Now, why did God take all this pains to make man out of earth ? 

When he could by one word of his of nothing give him birth? 

Because this Moses saw that man, when death had laid‘him low, 

Fell back to dust, from whence he came; hence Moses guessed 
‘twas so. 


Aht Moses wrote the best he knew; we blame him not for that; 


But when he says, “Thus saith the Lord,” he knocks down reason ~ 


Because we know that God’s too wise to contradict the Lord ; [flat ; 
But Science, let great Moses know, doth contradict his word. 

He said the sun, the moon, the stars, were made to light the earth ; 
But to the scientific world what’s his opinion worth, 

Unless it does corroborate what science knows is true, 

Makes nature give the reasons for, as Bibles ought to do? 


The Sun’s a million times the size of Earth, our little ball ; 

And worlds by thousands, larger’n this, peep out at evening’s call. 
The greater for the lesser made? is that the way God plans? 

Or does this operation look a little more like man’s? 

Ah! whether for the Lord one writes, or for his race doth pen, 
The reasons must not be left out, to be believed by men. 


On nature’s science stand or fall all kinds of theologies ; 

No use to harp on Bible faiths, or for them make apologies. 

The natural sciences must control and govern man; 

‘They have a power to charm mankind as no old dogmas can. 
There’s musical harmony in their chime — no discord there; © 
But jargon in the Creeds we find, and in them everywhere. | free. 
Once was I bound by Bible Creeds; but now, thank Heaven, I’m 
To Sect I never more shall bow, to Clergy never bend the knee. 


What science taught first oped my eyes, and showed me nature’s » 


test. 
‘Then angels vouched for truth thus got, and put my soul at rest. 
The angels teach what men do preach when science is their guide ; 
And, when Both worlds the trath unfurls, their teaching LU] abide. 
I bless the day when first I learned to find God out of books. 
How much more lovely does God seem when one to nature looks ! 
_ «One sees that God in nature’s plans pays no respect to Creeds, 
Bids rain and sunshine bless us all, and satisfy our needs. 











A Critique upon the Creeds. 117 


One sees that God ne’er cursed the earth, he could not be so bad ; 

*Twas Moses, by tradition taught, who done this horrid deed — 

That Moses who the Egyptian slew, and hid him in the sand, 

Stole jewels from Egyptian girls, and said ’twas God’s command ; 

That Moses who built Eden’s bower, and reared the tree of strife, 

And on one apple of that tree hung everlasting life ; | 

That Moses who could stone to death the inoffensive child 

For parents’ sins long years before — how merciful! how mild! 

That Moses who could perpetrate the most offensive crimes, 

And then assert “Thus saith the Lord ”—what wretched, barb’rous 
times! _ : 

Did Nature or did Reason give one solitary hint 

That God loved Moses more than me, then would I be content, 

Believe him partzal in his book, and special in his grace ; 

Predestination then is ¢rue, and hell may be my place ; 

For only one in ev’ry ten can hope to reach that place 

Where Moses’ God, the Potentate, shows man his Kingly face. 


Still Pll believe what nature shows is God’s eternal truth ; 
No matter what the “ hirelings” say, Ill teach it to the youth. 
Ill take my reason for my helm, and nature for my guide ; 

Tl study well the laws of God, but isms I'll throw aside. 

What is the truth, add where? I ask with candid, docile mind ; 
In nature’s fount, with reason’s help, the truth I think I find. 


And Ull pursue it with my might, nor ask if I may do it; 

My conscience bids me go ahead and hence I buckle to it. 
Creeds need not think to win men all with chaffy incongruity, 
Or stop, by their unsound protests, the “spread of infidelity.” 
Every truth must sure agree with every other truth ; 

There’s no exception to the rule — except the creeds, forsooth. 


They try to show ’twas God’s design that they should differ some, 
Competition gives life to trade, and why not life to come? 

If this be so they should shake hands with all religions round, 
They'll find in every one, no doubt, a something frue and sound. 
When Luther left the Catholic Church man had the right, he said, 
To worship and interpret too, just as his conscience led. 


Since Luther’s time the Church has been dividing and subdividing, 
Till half the men we meet, almost, have Bible Hobby’s, riding. 
And now, my friends, my common-sense won’t stand it any longer, 
These husky creeds don’t feed my soul —don’t satisfy my hunger, 
And if the Book supports them all, *tis but a Sacred Blunder ; 

I'll have a more consistent faith, or else Pll “go to thunder.” 


And thus I wrote long years ago when driven by necessity 
Out of the Church into the world, where truth’s my creed — my 
church humanity. 


118 Common Sense Theology. 


Here every day fresh food for tho’t has nourished heart and soul ; 
Sincerity has guided me while heaven’s been my goal. 
Tt matters not who speaks a truth to him who loves it well, | 


He takes it with a thankful heart, though it should ooze from hell. 


God’s loving heart I feel must brood o’er all his sensient race, 
Harmonic truth encircles all, and so too boundless grace. : 
The ripened corn must not despise the yet unfruitful blade, 
For sun, and rain, and time, shall yet display its fruitful head. 
Don’t ask me to return unto the Church’s barren fold, 


My soul would starve, and I might die of hunger, thirst and cold. — 
However much creeds bless the Book and talk of scheme and plan, — 


The Lord is God, he needeth not the poor device of man. 
Though I am called by odious names and with the wicked stood, 
“To one fixed stake my spirit clings, I know ‘the truth’ is good. 
I know not what the future hath of marvel or surprise, 

I’m still assured that life and death his mercy underlies. 

And so beside the Silent Sea I wait the mufiled oar; 

No harm from Him can come to me on ocean or on shore. 

I know not where his islands lift their fronded palms in air ; 

I only know I cannot drift beyond his love and care. 

O creedsmen! if my faith is vain, if hopes like these betray, 
Pray for me that my feet may gain the sure and safer way. 

And Thou, O Lord! by whom are seen thy’ creatures as they be, 
Forgive me if too close [lean my human heart on Thee ! 

Blow,. winds of God, awake and blow these ‘ trashy creeds’ away, 
Shine out, O Light Divine, and show how wide and far they stray.” 


When Bibles and Nature disagree, Which shall fall ? 


Creeds were not wise to drive their stakes and leave no chance to 

' grow, 

ie science, in these later years, will truthless creeds o’erthrow. 

The truth which science doth reveal hath just as great a claim 

Upon man’s faith, as Bible truth, exactly, just the same. 

The sciences must test all Books, by whomsoever wrote, 

_ No use to call them infidel — the charge ain’t worth a groat. 

The Bible Word with Nature’s Word must never disagree 3. 

If either falls, the Bible must, ’tis very plain to see. 

And new discoveries, all the while, are driving to the wall 

These self-ordained philologists, who feign to know it all. 

"Twould seem their blunders in the past would make them kind 
of modest, 

And rather loth to show they are but wordy Bible Creedists. 


fe - oa es ali 
eae? A eee ee Be eee 











A Critique upon the Creeds. 119 


Creeds have always Opposed the March of Science. 


The sciences have always met with slander from the creeds, 

Because they would not heed the Book, nor bow their saucy heads. 

Astronomy in olden time was flatly contradicted, 

Though transits and eclipses came as they were then predicted. 

The earth, of course, should stand stock still, sun, moon and stars 
roll round, 

Because ee Genesis and Creed could nohow be unsound. 

Geology, they cast aside, as if it were a viper, 

Because this science would not budge, but told them all to hiper. 

It said, “True Nature and her God must never be divided, 

That everything in heaven and earth by Holy Laws are guided.” 

The six days mentioned wherein God made heaven earth and skies 

Must now stretch out to ages long, else their theology dies. 

Phrenology, they hooted at, maybe with sincerity, 

With blazing zeal they did cry out, “It leads to infidelity.” 

As though God’s word and human skulls could ever disagree, 

When both are from the self-same hand, what blindness not to see. 

The wiser do and practise it, and from it learn true charity, 

For it completely overthrows their doctrine of depravity [total]. 

And so ’twill be with others too — the sciences must stand, 

And creeds will be obliged to own they’re writ by God’s own hand. 

And such a host as do come up in these progressive years 

To overthrow the faith of sects, may startle well their fears. 

Geology — Phrenology — and Mesmerism, too — 

Biology — Psychology —and others not a few — [down, 

Are based on facts, and will remain when creeds have tumbled 

Progression marks their onward course, no use for creeds to frown. 

In future years all faiths must go through scientific quizzing, 

The sooner they adopt the rule the sooner comes God’s blessing. 

As well may they hush up the storm, or bid the sun stand still, 

As think to hush man’s reasoning soul, by saying, “’Taint God’s 


will? 


Creeds Ignore Reason in Religion. 


_ The creeds have always stigmatized the reasoning power in man, 
Unless it labored faithfully, to place them in the van. 

Still reason is the crucible in which to test all creeds, 

And he who calls it carnal, must be dead to man’s true needs. 
All preachers without reason, are like ships without a helm, 
They are not fit for modern times, but for some ancient realm. 
Such mock their nature, mock their God, and mock their fellow- 
They are but puny Bibleites, go hear them ye who can. — [man, 
And those men poorly fill their sphere who all their reason spend 
To make those errors passable which ne’er with reason blend. 


120 Common Sense Theology. 


Ah! whether for the Lord one writes, or for his race doth bend, 
The reasons must not be left out, to be believed by men. 

Most Churchmen say “ ’twill never do to use your carnal reason, | 
But take the Word, the blessed Word, just as it has been given, 
Have faith in God, and by his blood, let Jesus cleanse your soul, 
For if you don’t you ne’er can hope to reach the heavenly goal.” 


“Seek Faith,” says Creed, “‘Seek Evidence,” says Reason.— Which is right? 


* Have faith in God ” — whoever can, till reason faith shall bless ? 
Paul wanted reason for his hope, shall righteous faith ask less ? 
iee what is faith but evidence ? — conviction truth has given, 
Ah! who can help or hinder faith ? not earth, nor hell, nor heaven ! t 
That man who says he does believe without his evidelice, 
By law of mind a liar is — we cannot give him credence. 
The proverb says, “ He who believes against his reason’s will, 
May blindly rant, but still he holds the same opinion still.” 
Hence “ Believe thou or be thou damned,” was ne’er by reason 
prompted. fed. 
A righteous God ne’er forced down faith, I wonder Christ attempt- 
- Indeed, I do not think he did, I could not honor, then, 
That tender, weeping, generous soul must love his fellow-men. 
He came to save the world, he said, and never to condemn. 
His truth, not blood, my reason says, doth save his fellow-men. 
Believe the truth or you'll be damned, may well be said to all, 
For error leads to sorrow still, as ever since the “ fall.” 


» 


Christ was Misunderstood by the Evangelists. 
Christ must have been misunderstood by those who wrote his book, 
They made him God while he was man, the evidence mistook. 
They thought because he did some works which none before had 
That he was God, or little else, the Father’s Only Son. _—‘[ done, 
But was he all the son God had, as ’tis by some expressed ? 
Or as by others, God himself, in flesh made manifest ? 
Was e’er a God of woman born? then look around you here, 
And see in all those who excel, a God in his own sphere. 
So Gods, too, all reformers were, as patterns for their fellows, 
And sure, if truth were sealed with blood, tho’ it were on the gal- 
lows, [riage, 
Our Christ was none the less, because he were not born in mar- 
Nor should we make him God, therefore, tho’ upright were his car- 
riage. [lows, 
Christ’s life and death do show him much above his earthly fel- 
But when you tell me he was God, my mind revolts, and shudders, 
To think what a Stupendous Hoax the world has undergone ! 
The Author of ten thousand worlds must let himself be born! 
Must come to earth, beget himself! take on man’s fallen frame ! 
Become a little nursing child! and lay on Mary’s arm! 











A Critique upon the Creeds. 121 


No wonder that the Catholics kneel unto the Virgin Mary ! 
She may be worshipped in good grace, as gospels tell the story ! 
Then when to manhood God had grown, the Jews must shed his 
blood, } 
To save the world from Adam’s Fall, according to their word. 
_At least, a part he might thus save, by dealing special grace, 
‘While all the rest the Devil gets, though brothers of the race. * 
Have you, my reader, faith enough to swallow such a mess? 
Then you may say, Be mountains moved, and they willgo, I guess! 
The sycamore may you pluck up! and plant it in the sea! 
The dead may raise ! aye, hell shut up! and all its prisoners free! 
Such power as this should not be lost, the world doth need it all, 
To root up error — sift the truth, and men to virtue call. 
You well remember, I presume, the story of the woman 
Who had a hill in front her house, she wished was in the ocean, 
She’d read in Scripture of that faith which mountains might re- 
move, 
So told her hus. she meant some night, this mighty power to prove. 
One night, with all her might she prayed, as though she were 
anointed. 
At dawn she looked, Husband ’tis there! ar’n’t you disappointed ? 
* No, no,” says he, “it seems to me, the thing that you requested, 
Was quite absurd, and your a fool if you the thing expected !” 
Ah! faith alone, without good works, will not at all avail, 
But by work, hard work, constant work, we may, we can prevail. 
* God helps the man who helps himself,” a proverb long has been, 
There’s no exception to the rule, so far as I have seen. 
Work out your own salvation, then, don’t fear nor tremble, though, 
But cheerfully hope on, my friend, God’s favor thus he’ll show. 
If we would rise, gain virtue’s prize, and enter spheres above, 
Then must we work, yea, always work, and let our rule be love. 


The Bible, as a Whole, is Unworthy of God, and Cramping to Man. 


O when will men let Nature’s God control the world alone, 

And cease to make apologies for notions we’ve outgrown. [ Lord,” 
Just strike out “Holy” from the Book, and the “Thus saith the 
We'd scarcely let our children read one-half the Jewish Word, 
And false impressions every day, from pulpit and from press, 
Are stamped upon our children’s minds, and we have no redress, 
Because they say the Bible shows that such must be the truth, 
And hence, without a moment’s thought, they teach it to the youth. 
And sometimes when a wholesome truth is in the Bible found, 
They wring and twist it out of place, lest it their creed confound. 
I know my words seem sacrilege, to those who never reason, 

But if I were to hold them back, to me it were a treason. 


122 Common Sense Theology. 


’Twould scorn, and taunt, and shame me well, for lack of moral 
courage. 
He is not worthy of the truth who shuns to spread its knowledge. 





‘The Bible so often Contradicts Nature and ‘Reason, it Ceases to be Authority 
with Thinking Minds. | 


’T would seem the hist’ry of mankind this fact to creeds would teach, 
That men are all too fallible for God through them to preach ; 
Eternal truth without a mix of errors gross and great, 
And that reason is the sieve to shift the chaff from out the wheat. 
If the Bible God be Nature’s God, they'll talk to us the same: 
But when they do not harmonize, pray, which one is to blame? 
True reason says let Nature’s God be ever the supreme, 
But creedsmen say let Bible God confound dumb nature’s theme. 
They’d sooner have, ’twould seem to me, all Nature contradicted, 
Than have their partial creeds put down, and all mankind elected. 
Ah! reason must from creeds come out, or ’twill revamp them all, 
It cannot ever reconcile the doctrines of the Fall. 
is Nature right? Who dares deny? Then why not let it move? 
O! why curse it—then redeem it —and God so fickle prove? 
Man’s Fall and Christ‘s Atonement in reason find no place, 
Nor can my reason see the room for any special grace. 
When man shall see that all God’s laws give penalty to sin, 
He’ll see the Saviour in himself, which teaches how to win. ferned, 
If preachers would unfold the laws by which man’s life is gov- 
They’d do a splendid work for man, and earn the title Reverend. 
But while they harp on Adam’s Fall, on Devils, Hells and Death, 
On Special Grace, and Bible Creeds, they wogse than waste their 
breath. 
"Tis not the sight of food that fills the hungry soul with bread, 
Nor can another eat for us, as we have often read. 
He on the cross may show his love for man, and truth, and right 
May show himself an honest man, still reason is our light. | 
O let us then, through reason look, to virtue as our Saviour, a 
We'll find Salvation does depend entirely on behavior. 
Christ’s narrow way, which leads unto complete felicity, 
Is found alone in these two words —complete fidelity. ! 
*“Come unto me” is simply this, Come to thine honest self, 
Resolve henceforth, to live for truth, and not alone for pelf. 
Till then, no power nor grace can bring true rest or peace to man, 
But this, well done, God’s rest will come, without atoning plan. 
God’s rest, and peace, and heaven, all come, through wise, inher- 
ent laws, | 
All Books and Faiths not built on them, we’ve shown are full of 
flaws. 





Serio- Comic. 3 123 


PART TIT. 


SERIO-COMIC. 


| ‘Get Up and Get.” 
: Of all the phrases in the West that I in chance have met, 
: The biggest of the little ones is —Get up and get. 


I know not who got up the phrase, nor where at first ’twas writ, 
Tis good as Bible, many times, this — Get up and git. 

To progress ’tis so well allied and has so wide a fit, 

That ev’rybody ought to have some — Get up and git. 


With conscience ’tis a right-hand man —a kind of moral pet — 
For every time we sin she says, O!— Get up and get. 


Would any one grow wise or good, his crown with diamonds set, 
Then he must often chide his soul with — Get up and get. 


Full many a power in the soul, quite dormant there as yet, 
Awaits the potent stimulus of — Get up and get. 


How many times poor fallen ones would get a hoisting hit, 
If loving souls would only say, O! do — Get up and git. 


There’s none but tame old fogy souls, who statue-like would sit, 
That have the least of fault to find with — Get up and git. 


For every one who’s any spunk, and but a mite of wit, 
Must see the cogent pithiness of — Get up and git. 


’Tis often so appropriate, and has so queer a fit, 
It smacks of fun to use the term, this — Get up and git. 


When a sleepy congregation goes nodding toward the pit, 
What better could the preacher say than — Get up and git? 
When a pompous, prosy speaker won't see the time to quit, 
What should his tired hearers do but — Get up and git? 


When a woman has a husband and she has any grit, 
And he gets drunksand knocks her down, she’ll — Get up and git. 


7 When a bright girl has a fellow who comes to help her knit, 
_* And his breath stinks of whiskey, she’ll— Get up and git. 





1294 Common Sense Theology. 


When a fellow goes a-courting not very badly smit, 
And his sweetheart falls to snoring, he'll — Get up and git. 


When thievish boys go hunting for melons in the lot, 
And the bull-dog comes a howling, there’s — Get up and got. 


3 


When Sherman tramped down Southward and told the “ rebs ” to 
How prudently appropriate, “ Let’s — Get up and git.” [quit — 


When Ulysses neared to Richmond where the Rebel Congress met, 
And his bombshells fell among them, didn’t Jeff —Get up and get? 


And when at length they caught him, isn’t it safe to bet 
de saw a mighty gallows rise, with, Jeff — Get up and get? 


But the nation had the wisdom to let him live and sweat, 
And the world has learned a lesson of — Get up and get. 


‘* Root Hog or Die.’’ 
Ye sluggish souls who idly sit and wait for wings to fly, 
This homely phrase is yours to learn : ’tis-— Root hog or die. 


“Twill never do to fold your hands and trust in by and by, 

The watchword of this sprightly age is — Root hog or die. 

No man can hope to make his mark who stops to grown and sigh, 
For sighing never wins the goal, ’tis — Root hog or die. 

Then up and doing, meet your foes, smite them hip and thigh, 
The active win —the sluggish lose — ’tis — Root hog or die. 


Would you attain to wealth or fame, or waft your soul on high? 
No motto more significant than — Root hog or die. 


No thing in life, attained by strife, which in your power may lie, 


But you'll receive if you believe in — Root hog or die. 

You must not think you're born to ride, and live on cake and pie, 
Whilst others tug and toil your part of — Root hog or die — 

For Southern gents who scorned to dig, but made the black man 
Have had to learn the Yankee style, ’tis — Root hog or die. [hie, 
Hence if you do not wish to die, this much you must believe, 
That rooting has a rich reward — ’*tis — Root hog and live. 


But let your rooting all be done with justice in your eye, 
Or like seceders at ‘the South, you only — Root to die. 


‘* Hold on— Keep a Stiff Upper Lip.” 


Some people, you know, when they get in a fix, 
Cry out — Let her go — Let her rip — 

But ’tain’t always best to let her go so — 
Hold on — Keep a stiff upper lip. 


a 
4 
4 
j 
a 








_Serio-Comic. 125 


The Let-her-go class, when the wind blows hard, 
Cry out — Let us give up the ship; 

But many a ship has been saved by the ery, 
Hold on— Keep a stiff upper lip. 


How many bright lives have been wrecked on the strand 
~ Of passionate — Let her go rip, 
But never a man who said to his soul, 

Hold on — Keep a stiff upper lip. 


Some people, you see, hold on a long tims, 
Then carelessly let their feet slip, 

But watchfulness cries “ Hold on to the last,” 
Hold on — Keep a stiff upper lip. 


Some children hold on while parents are nigh 
To counsel the stiff upper lip, | 

But when they are gone, the children forget — 
And then — Let her go — Let her rip. 


Quite few are the souls who do not sometimes 
Drop down — Let her go — Let her rip, 

Then Charity smiles —“ You've a home now for mey 
Be good with your stiff upper lip.” 


Let all who are strong hold on with one hand, 
Then reach for some — Let her go rip, 
For pity is due to all who cannot 
Hold on — Keep a stiff upper lip. 


The Let-her-go class have all got to learn 
Hold on — Keep a stiff upper lip, 

For Heayen lies not at the end of the road 
Where points — Let her go — let her rip. 


But still, no doubt, there are some cases where 
Hold on — Keep a stiff upper lip — 

Would rush us to woe in double-quick time, 
Ah! then — Let her go — Let her rip. 


All vows that are made in — Let-her-rip style, 
Renounce — Let them go — Let them rip; 

But when they are made to prop up the soul, 
Hold on — Keep a stiff upper lip. 


Reform pioneers are,inclined, sometimes, 
To feel — Let her go — Let her rip, 

But should they do so then progress must stop; 
Pioneer — Keep a stiff upper lip. 


There’s glory ahead for the brave old souls 
Who won't — Let her go — Let her rip, 





126 : Common Sense Theology. 


So stick to your text, ye veterans tried, 
Hold on — Keep a stiff upper lip. 


Just think of that man —that Garrison bold, — 
Who ne’er — Let her go — Let her rip, 

But stuck to his post till “ niggers ” grew men — 
Hold on — Keep a stiff upper lip. 


If your cause isn’t just, why, then let her go — 
At once — Let her go — Let her rip — 

Or like Davis and Lee, you must bite the dust — 
And limber your stiff upper lip. 

Men do sometimes get a step in advance 
By some daring — Let her go — rip, 

But never a man gained Heaven without 
A virtuous, stiff upper lip. 


The Dutchman's Query About Special Providence. 


That Dutchman who was called upon to give a sum of money 
To build a meeting-house for God, the sequel shows quite funny. 


One thousand dollars he subscribed to build for God a church, 
Saying he thought they needed one to worship God in, much. 


They built the church — still needed funds to get a bell to ring ;— 
The Dutchman said I will subscribe — we need that very thing 
To tell us when ’tis time, you know, to gather in the church — 
To put us all in mind to meet, lest some be in the lurch. 

This done, they called again, to ask for one more subscription — 
They needed much a lightning-rod to give the house protection. 
“Vot for! vot for! dish lightning-rod? Tell me, vot ish it for? 
Ish it too keep God’s tunder off ?— Ish dat vot it ish for? !! 

* Then not one tam cent vill I give! we build the church for God — 
If God done like her, let him smash her! Away vid your tam rod! 
“Tfall the strokes of lightning are sent by the great God, 

Should we then t’wart his purposes by sticking up a rod? — 

“If God in his own providence has caused the church to rise, 

Let God himself protect her —I vill not tell such lies. 

“Should I subscribe, you'll ask agin to get insured from fire ! 

I vill not do it; God do know the church is his entire ! 

“ And if he vant to burn or smash, jest let him if he dare ! — 

I vill not give von tam cent more, I vont! I vonvt! I swear!” 


That honest Dutchman’s common sense was proof against such 
stuff— 
To build the church and hang the bell he thought’ was quite enough, 











Serio-Comie. 127 
\ 
Without insuring any way, ’gainst Special Providence — 
?Twas too much tax entirely on his benevolence. 


Practise what you Preach. 


Once upon a time, there was a Priest who met 1 crippled Wag. 
This Priest, well dressed, with wallet full, was mounted on a nag. 


The Priest, of course, expected all he met upon the road 
To make obeisance, but the Wag ne’er deigned a single nod. 


Vile man, says Priest, youre bound to hell! (unless you quick 
repent. ) 
I, bound to hell? what made you think that such was my intent? 


Because you never go to church, nor bow before my God; 
You never yet one pardon bought, nor deigned respectful nod: 


How dare you thus contemn God’s priests, and treasure up his 
wrath ? 

Ah! know you not your're in fair way to get a brimstone bath? 

It may be, Sir, that I am wrong, in sin and shame to wallow — 

But, my dear Sir, ’m very poor, please give me but one dollar. 

Dare you ask alms who never yet gave aught to help the church ? 

Away, you vagabond! I'l not give to an unpardoned wretch ! 


But do, Sir, please to give a half —’twould aid me very much — 
I’ve had no dinner, and beside, I need a better crutch. 


Away, vile man! [ve no half to give to reprobates like you! 
Well, do then give but one dime —Q, help me this much, do! 


No, not one farthing will I gi all upon the town — 
Get up, Pomp, if I with you were seen, ’twould tarnish my renown. 





Well then, since you’ve no money to give, pray let me have your 
blessing ? [ cursing. 
Yes, says the Priest, that I will give, though you deserve my 


But, stop, Sir, will it all be free? Do tell, you know I’m starving. 

Yes, youcur. Then L won't have tt! Yo ou’ve shown *twan’t worth 
a farthing ! 

Ten thousand blessings such as yours arn’t worth a single snap ! 

And if a devil reigns in hell, for you he’s set his ¢rap. 


128 Common Sense Theology. 


The Changes of a Year. ‘ 


* 





SUGGESTED BY CHURCH OPERATIONS IN THE CITY OF LEWISTON, ME., EMBRACING 
THE WINTERS OF 1858 anp 1889. 


[These rhymes caused quite a rattling among the dry bones of Orthodoxy at the — 


time, as they were printed and sent into every church family throughout the city. a 
The churches being somewhat divided as to the propriety of these gambling oper- a 
ations, they got thoroughly read and discussed in the church and on the street.] 4 
ee 

What changes doth a year bring round — astonishing to me!— 
One season ’tis all “ Go to church ” — The next ’tis all Levee.” “a 
One season men and women wade into the icy stream — [cream.” 
e e e i _ © 

The next they flaunt in gay attire — smack “oysters” and “ice — 
a 

One season, “O! how precious are poor dying sinnner’s souls ! ?— : 
The next they play the possum, to draw them o’er the toals! 4 


One season, O! how meek the gait— how humble church-folks, 
talk ! [and chalk! — 
The next, they laugb, joke, dress and flirt, improved by rouge 


Prayer-meetings once were all the rage, for God was “passing 
by "= die.” 3am 
But now the saints have all been booked, they eat, “for soon they 


Last year, with mournful lodks and pace, they trod God’s solemn 
courts — 
But now they hie with eager steps to join the festive sports. 


Loud prayers and long confessions have changed to boisterous ~ 

mirth — [you worth?” 
“ How fares thy soul,” is seldom asked —’tis—“ How much are 
The question, “Are you fit to die and in God’s kingdom live?” 


5% 


Has changed to this inquiry, “ Pray, how much will you give: 
5S Y> 5 


Last year they doomed the lively ones, and said ’twas sin to dance ! 
But now they coax these “Devil’s tools” to help play games of 
chance ! 


Last year, the gambler—Oh ! how vile! — the blackleg all should 
shun | — 
But now they play: these gamblers tricks and call it righteous cu i 


Last year, the Church was down upon those Yankees who sold — 
books, : 


Because they offered premiums—gave trinkets with theit books. 


But now the Church says, “ Plank your dime and you shall have a oe 
grab, ‘] 
We've got a lease from Heaven’s Court — the Devil shall not niles a 4 





Serio-Comic. 129 


Last year, how graciously they strained to swallow e’en the gnat, 
Down goes now the hump-backed camel, if only sleek and fat! . 
Last year they hungered, ‘so they said, for righteousness and truth, 
Now money, money is the prayer—“Oh! give it man and youth !” 
Now, greedy Church, let all hands game, must bookmen he denied, 
Since grab-bag, ring and guessing cakes have all been sanctified ? 
’Tis true your stakes are but a dime—yet “plank it” ere you guess, 
Then, saint or sinner, you’re all right, “we are a holy mess.” 


And if you venture recklessly, the more you win applause, 
“The means the end will sanctify — ours is a holy cause. 


“Tis blessed in our church to game, because the stakes we win 
Will be devoted to the truth, and help to banish sin.” 

Last year, money was the Devil’s club to knock us all in head — 
This year, money is the Church’s God ; the Devil now is dead, 

Or else he has outwitted the Lord with whom he fought, [caught. 
Has played his game so handsomely, the Church have all been 


» Why did the Church allow him so soon to cheat the Lord? 
To me ’twould be no wonder if he should catch their God! 


Beeause fis plans are broader — he’s everywhere about — 
Hence watches every weakness, and strengthens every doubt. 


The Church’s God comes now and then—when Priests call very loud, 
But Satan soon drives him away, and scatters every cloud. 


Levees and parties, then, of course, the Devil may suggest — 
Lest preachers pray too open, while he conducts the rest. 


And so the Church increases in holiness and power 
By these gymnastic somersaults — this going on ali four. 


She'll reach perfection by and by, when government takes her 
part — * _-[smatt. 

And crowns her “bunkum” in her deeds —then infidels must 

But think you, friends, that Jesus Christ would favor Church 
Levees ? — 

Would he be guessing after rings, a worldly church to please? 

Or would he take his scourge and say, “ Begone ye gambling saints, 

I’ve no respect for hypocrites, though hooped and daubed with 
paints.” 

Away, ye Priests — ye Pharisees — ye make the outside clean, 

And for pretence, ye make long prayers, but inwardly you’re 
mean! | 


Your preaching is a trade you learn, as lawyers, doctors, theirs, 
But when the layman don’t pay well, ye prompt Levees and Fairs. 


9 


130 Common Sense Theology. 


Then guess and gamble, grab and gain, and call it serving God— 
But just so sure as Justice reigns, so sure you'll feel the rod. 


Christ is no scape-goat, priestly Church, to save from just desert, 
The laws of God have each a rod, who breaks them must get hurt. 





“ What matter where the bar may be to which the world is cited? 


Though here or in Eternity, each wrong must yet be righted. 


“There is no bankrupt law for sin, though heretics may teach it, 
No Limitation Act steps in, though Paul himself might preach it.” 


Stern Justice reigns from shore to shore, 

Throughout all realms for evermore. 
“For ages, though the time’s delayed, 

Each moral debt must once be paid.” 


Something Good in All. 


John Kant, a good old Polander, while riding through the woods, — 
‘Met there a gang of robbers, who demanded “all his goods. 


John hadn’t much, and what he had he needed for his journey ; 
But what cared they? The robbers said, “Give up your horse 
and money.” | 


So John got down from oif his horse, and gave them up his purse, © 
His golden chain, and finger-ring, and never breathed a curse ; 


Then gave his prayer-book, silver clasped, and told them that was 
And glad was he to get off so —he feared a leaden ball. fall, 


But when he’s fairly out of sight he thought of gold left yet — 
Some pieces stitched inhis garment’s hem, the robbers did not get. 


* My stars |” said Kant, “I’ve told a lie ! although I did not mean it, 
And Pll go back and find those men; I should, I must explain it.” 


And back he went and offered it, and said he’s so confused, 
He did not think about his gold, and begg’d to be excused. 


Astonished at his honesty, they would not take his gold, 
And vowed they would not rob a man so truthful and so bold. 


Then one of them brought back his purse, another still his chain, 
ne prayer-book, ring, and horse, they brought, and gave him up ~ 
the rein. 


And more than this, they helped him on, then bege’d that he would 
bless them, them. 


And for them. good old John did pray, then rode away and left 


And as he rode along, he mused upon the robbers part, [heart !” 
* Thank God! said he, “ there’s something good e’en in a robber’s — 





Serio- Comic. ; 131 


Shall Woman Vote ? 


[The reader is indebted for the following, to an imaginary; impromptu speech 
in rhyme by that noted anti-woman suffragist, H. G., just after the ‘‘ Baltimore 
Ratification” of the ‘‘ Cincinnati Reformation.” _ 

He is aided in this remarkable effort by a voice from behind the scenes which 
helps out the hesitating rhymes — helps on the arguments, and gives the sentiments 
a truthful, if not a desirable turn. 

The words of the voice are in italics. ] 


INTRODUCTION. 
Hail, Fellow Countrymen ! — To-day I’m feeling quite sublime, 
And as the gods now favor me, I’ll improvise in rhyme. 


Our Government is threatened with disaster from the women, 
And if we do not head them off, there’s danger they’ll be winning. 


Now, as there is no argument so potent with the mass 

As ridicule, ’m in for that, though — logie go to grass. 

There’s no mistake, ?’m down upon all petti — coat-tail reign, 
‘Tis so absurd I — swear, sometimes, and act like — Tubal Cain. 


Tis strange indeed — ’tis passing strange our women can’t be still 
And let the men —-“ to glory go” and do just — what they will. 


And I believe they mostiy would, but for those women screeches 
Who stir the people with harangues in stolen, stumping breeches. 


Those Woodhulls, and those Stantons—those Livermores and 


Stones — [crones. 
Those Hookers and those Anthonys — what are they — but old 


What nonsense theirs, to leave their sphere and try to ape the man.. 

I’m down on public — petticoats, Pll tloor them, — if L can. 

So Iam here to question you concerning woman’s voting, 

And Vl proceed, at once, my friends, the gods are with me —. 
sporting. 


Shall Woman Vote? 


That's Tue question. Oh! what a question for this our—manly age, 

And who but crack-brained souls would dare to — open woman's: 
cage, | 

And let her out to —flutter votes, to crow — like rooster men, 

To sit in legislative halls and — smoke and chew, and then — 


To spit and swear and drink and vote and knock each other down— 
Accept of bribes and turn their coats and seek for HIGH renown, 


— 


132 | Common Sense Theology. 


And leave our cradles all unrocked — our linen all unclean — . 
Our beds unmade, our meals uncooked, what man could be so mean? — 


And then, again, she’d want high pay, just like us — master men, 
And wouldn’t be — obliged to marry, nor — play the harlot then! 


We'd have to be so virtuous we couldn’t hardly live — 

With her — sharp-eyed intuitions, she’d — sift us as @ sieve. 

Now the quickest way to head her, is to brand her with free-love, 
You know ’tis such a stigma, *twill kill her dead, — By Jove! 


Unless the men are all imbued with what she calls frec-lust, 
And vote her in on principle, and then our game ts lost, 


As was the South's — she fought, you know, for Slavery and 
Secession, 


But gota very different thing, got “ Negro-Mancipation.” 


Tam no coward, friends, but then that voice behind the sereen 
Is mocking me — “playing double” — of course I did not mean 


That we are all a-going down like Slavery and Secession, 
No, no, my friends, we'll have, by G., salvation through election. 


Though all the gods in Christendom should rise as from the dead, 
Pll hang right on to— policy — Tm bound to go ahead. 

No matter what they say or do, think you I do not know 

Which side my bread is buttered on? To glory I must go. 
Again, no knowing where ‘twill end, when women get to voting, 
They may conclude they have a right to do one-half the courting, 


Or live old maids and die unblest with — lust/ul, drunken stenches, 
Who hidden well behind bad laws, do murder by the inches, 


And bless the race with progeny two shades above the brute, 

Then pray for God's Millennium /— That man behind go shoot! 
Once more, should women vote and stand their chances for election, 
Not one great —journalist in ten, could reach chief magistration. 


Long terms and re-elections had well nigh spoiled my chance, o 
Though caring nought for office, I glory in advance. 


But that is nothing, here, nor there, the question of the day 
Is this — Shall woman vote, and be a man? and have a public say? 


Shall woman vote? shall woman live? grow tired? or sick? 
or faint ? ’ 
Or think a thought ? or feela pain ? or dare to be a saint? 
Commit a sin ? or go to jail? or be reined up by law ? 
Or pay a tax ? or pay a debt? or for subsistence claw ? 
Or sigh for just relationship ? or heed the golden rule ? 
Or eer desire to rise above the toy ? the dupe ? the tool ? 








Serio-Comic. 133 


Or ask for truer Sovernment than man can make alone ? 
Or pray for real justice while mere policy holds the throne ? 


Let “Flunkies!” “Kops!” and “Foreigners!” let Negroes!” 
and “ Ku-Klux!” —' 

Let lammany Rings!” and“ Bulls” and“ Bears!” fill up 
the ballot box! 


But dowt let selly woman once think to cast a vote! [ mote f 
She's nought at stakein government, man’s the beam — she’s the 


*Tis true she mothers ali the men, and keeps the race alive, 
And planus to rear the famzly, but she can't see to drive! 


She counsels well the children to be virtuous and pure, 
Bul la! how soon she'd vulgarize! were she to vote, the dear! 


Fust think of genteel women a-rushing to the polls 
Where drinking, swearing, brutish men, are warting —DUTY’S 
CALLS ! 


There ! if that voice behind the screen don’t hold his silly tongue, 
When I get in the Nation’s Chair, I'll have the rascal hung! 


*Tis enough to make one shudder, to think what degradation 
Will come to man ‘when women vote, and sit in legislation ! — 


And dare to talk on politics — or help frame laws for men — 
Or hold the reins of government —we’re a hen-pecked nation then. 


Women ought to be content and let our noble Christian men, 


Like — Ben. and Brick. and Bennet — instruct and rule, and then 


How vulgar will the women get, a mixing so with men — 


Lose all those finer feelings, which men prize so much, and then 
ir) 
She ought to be quite satisfied ; she’s now allowed, you know 
= e e e ? 
To eat with men and — sleep with men, but O! this mixing so! 


We let her go to theatre, and go to balls, you know, 
And go to church and — go to hell, but O! this mixing so 


In politics and government /— that’s worse than all the rest. 
Man ought to have one sanctuary by woman all un-Olesé. 


Enough to make a preacher swear, much more —our swearing G— 
To hear such talk as that in there; such logic angers me. 


Haven’t I been watching all these years and writing for the nation ? 


And don’t l know what woman is ? ‘and when she leaves her station ? 


The old know nothing but to cook, the young to dress and flirt ; 

They haven’t read — they haven’t thought, and more — they haven’t 
brains to vote ! 

And so with negroes until freed, but now they do advance — 

Thetr ballot duties draw them out; gtve woman but their chance, 


134 Common Sense Theology. 


She'd cease her *‘pretty” childishness, and seek redemption too —— 
Conventions might convert the fools —they have done much for you. 


Lhere’s nothing like the ballot-box to stir the thoughtless up — 
With tt she'd clean the inside of the platter and the cup, 


Now filthy tn extreme, you say, but can you make it cleaner 
With such advisers as old Feff ? O! what a righteous backer! 


Unless he’s been converted too, through Cincinnati Meetings, 

Where the Pilates and the Herods could shake hands with friendly 
greetings. 

Why not shake hands with women too? Give them a chance to rise? 

You'd better be reforming them, yow ll need them in the skies. 

Our women would, tf they'd the chance, stand side by side with 
man — 

Would strengthen him to do the right — would chasten every plan. 


Self-sacrifice they've more than man, and less have they of war — 
More tntuction — more of love— and some have more of jaw'r. 


Without them Heaven must be dull indeed, no place at all for me — 
She’s EQUAL but for slavishness ; she should be nobly free. 

Don’t talk equality to me, what could the women do 

Without the men to lead them off and keep them straight and true ? 


Not one in ten have pluck enough to earn a decent living, 

And here they are tormenting us to let them be a-voting! — 

Tis true our laws do not give them the chance they ought to have 

To show themselves, much more perhaps than did the South its 
slaves. 

But should we let them vote and have full wages for their doing, 

They’d squander them and look to us for—now and then a farthing. 

Confound that croaker! stop his noise — He'll spoil my — policy 
speech. 

I can’t endure masked batteries—if he don’t stop Pll—sereech. 


The Livermores and Stantons may be able to take care 

Of Number One or Number Two, but who would ever dare 

- To trust them with high offices ?—’twould make them, O so vain! 

And then should they just—Johnsonize, how ’twould the nation 
stain. 

Our nation now is Christian-like, and wants a government God, 

- But women, they would sooner have—a golden-ruling Lord. 

She thinks we mean by godly rule, more selfish party power — 

“Love thou thy neighbor as thyself,” she thinks too rich a dower. 


To stand inany masculine code, much more “ resist not evil,” 
But should we heed such principles ’twould send us to the Devil, 





Serio-Comic. 135 


Where Slavery and Secession went —Feff Davis and his crew — 
Old Buck and Andy Fohnson —and other Christians, too, 


Who have figured tn our Government with their notion of State 
Rights. : 
= | Well that is nothing what ’twill be when women cast their votes. 


And palsied be my daughter’s frame ere she unsexes so 
That she can cast a campaign vote or on the rostrum go } 


O, florace G! When will our race let Fustice come to Earth, 
_. And justify the golden rule, so Freedom can have birth? 

Must cvery inch of progress be headed by selfish power? 

And every pionecr for truth sweat blood at every pore ? 


Conze, tell us, O, thou Tribune Sage! will there ever come a time 
When live and let live justice shall thrive here zm earthly clime? 


Vast! vast! ye gods! ’tis hard, I swear, to kick against the pricks, 
And when I make another speech Pll arm myself—with tricks. 


I little thought *twould cost so much to turn my coat for office, 
But now [m in, 1 must go—down! you must! you must! poor 
Florace ! 


And so must every policy man whatever his renown — 

Who treads the pit of mtry clay, ts certain to go down. 

£0 en though he reach the nation’s chatr, he'll sink in Virtue’s eyes, 

Who barters Fustice for renown cannot be counted wise. 

for wisdom ts that faculty which takes a look ahead, 

And saves the coming future from sorrow, shame and dread. 

Big intellects ’*thout moral sense and honesty of heart, 

May pull the wires of politics and get a seeming start, 

But, Fohunson-like, they get their due, while “ Swinging round the 
circle,” Las 

And come at last, like poor old Feff, to get thetr fill of trouble. 


Whilst honest men with hearts intent upon the right, the just, 
Who speak the truth, and that each time, because they feel they must. 


No matter if the rabble jeer, and blow a scornful blast, : 
Like Gurrison, they win the goal, and wear the crown at last. 


Do niggers” vote? So women shall !—'tis justice that they should— 
The gods have vowed !—and woe to him who'd hinder if he could! 





sh renee Common Sense Theology. © 


PART IV? 
THE AUTHOR’S RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE. 


[These rhymes were written some fifteen years since, and there is little to recom- 
mend them but their truthfulness. ] 


Now, candid friends, I’d like to give a little sketch of life, 

My soul’s religious history — with changes it is rife. 

You’ll pardon me, if for a while I speak about myself; 

Don’t think me egotistical, but lay me on the shelf. 

T’ve nought for shame, and nought for boast, according to my faith; 
I’m what circumstances made me, by teaching and by birth. — 

From boyhood I have always had an inward love of truth ; 
What are the facts, why are they so? I asked all through my youth. 
But still no virtue do I claim for this inclination ; 

I nursed it from my mother’s breast, she gave the disposition. 

This inheritance bequeathed, is mine to nurture well ; 

Pride, bribes, nor riches e’er shall rob — my birthright Vl not sell. 


*T was not enough to know that things existed thus and so ; 

The how— the why — the wherefore, I also longed to know. 
Hearsay never seemed to satisfy ; I always wanted proof ; 

From those who never seemed to give it; I always stood aloof. 
For what’s the use, I chid myself, to tamper with the truth — 
Deceive one’s self, and mock the soul, and hug a lie, forsooth. 

The soul who has no heritage except in guile and lies, 

Has never any consequence except. in pure disguise. 

The coward only hides himself behind a wall of lies ; 

And sham repentance will be his, when that poor coward dies. 
Aud when he wakes on t’other side, he’ll need some hiding place — 
He'll not have pluck, should he reach heaven, to look folks in the face. 


In Webster, Maine, I had my birth — a common farming town — 

And there is nothing but the name to give the place renown. 

My parents were strict Calvinists — the meeting-house ciose by, 

I was obliged with them to go and hear the preachers — lie. 

Not intentionally, perhaps, still they didn’t tell the truth ; 

The way they talked, sure was enough to frighten any youth. 

At first they’d pray that God would make a ‘‘ mustneeds” come that way, 
‘‘ Make bare his arm, right up his cause,” and make poor sinners say : 


ae Pe ee 





The Author's Religious Huperience. TAT 


**T am undone! what shall Ido? O, men and brethren tell! 

How shall I save my wicked soul from God’s eternal hell? ”— 

Then try to preach — oft from this text: ‘ By grace are ye sa-ved, 

And that through faith, not of yourselves, it is the gift of David — (God). zs 


The query was, in my young mind, How then shall I be saved, 
Unless I get this gracious gift which comes alone through David? 

If ?m elected, it will come, as sure as God doth reign ; 

Tf not elected, what’s the use to worry my poor brain? 

For God, they say, who made the world, will save just whom he will; 
If he saves me, why, well and good; if not, his will’s my hell. 

For I cannot disturb God’s will, (nor would it be polite,) 

Nor dared I say’John Calvin’s church wa’n’t all perfection — quite. 
The most I learned of God there was that he’s consuming fire — 

That hell was filled with brimstone flames, prepared by his desire, 
For all, except a ‘‘ chosen few,” he had ordained to dwell 

In endless bliss, while all the rest were doomed to endless hell. \ 


Still he was *‘ angry every day” with all who did not join 
That old angry, wrangling church, which now is dead and gone. 
The house they used to worship in, so holy and so pure, | 
Has now become a farmer’s barn — a better use, I’m sure. 

Those harmless beasts which stable there, within those sacred walls, 
Should feel a kind of holy awe, when they go in their stalls. 

For buildings made by men, you know, must be more holy than 

God’s universe, he made himself, and ages before man. 

Then think how many times our God has been instructed there !— 
Told what he’d better do for man, just how, and when, and where! 
Think, too, how many times poor souls there prayed to feel ’twas right 
To be forever scorched in hell, or doomed to endless night ! 


Now would you wonder if those beasts should bleat, and neigh, and loo, 
In tones more solemn than their wont — how seems it friends, to you? 
That angel that made Balaam’s ass reprove the smiting prophet, 

Should give those beasts some faint idea of the Calvinistic tophet. 

Our God, the Universal Father, I there was taught to think d 
Was but the God of Calvinism, and I stood on the brink y 
Of old John Calvin’s fiery hell, just ready to be dropped : 
Into that awful brimstone gulf, unless I did adopt 

The Calvinistic creed, and say, with all my heart and soul, 

That I’d be willing to be damned in that dread, burning hole. 

This makes me think of what I’ve read that some bold thinker wrote — 

‘¢ He who is willing to be damned, should be, for he’s a goat.” 


But then, he should have also wrote, that man who’s doomed to hear 
Old Calvin’s dogmas all through youth, 2s damned, that’s sure, by fear. 
And now when I look back and see how my young mind was fed, 

O, wonder not I hate the creed which me to misery led! 

As the “* burnt child doth dread the fire,” I cannot think of that creed 
Without a shudder for the youth who on such trash must feed. 

And while I’ve more of love for man, for truth, and right, and God, 
Than ancient dogmas, I must speak, though churchmen shake the rod. 
The man who has been extricated from such a miry hole 

Must be a monster, not a man — he surely has.no soul ; 


138 Common Sense Theology. 


Unless he lends a helping hand to others still in mire, 
In gratitude does what he can to quench that awful fire, 


Which priests have kindled, fed, and fanned, to flames of horrid hue ; 
The mass, through ignorance, thus are damned by the blind or guilty few. 
Shall I look on, my friends, and sigh, and not lift up my voice? 

See others scorched as I have been, by making such a choice? 

QO, when I think what I’ve endured in consequence of creed, 

I wish If had bold Gabriel’s trump to help me sow the seed — 

Of true religious liberty, which now alone is found 

That harmonial philosophy which angels help to sound — 

That natural religion, which wells up from out the heart, 

To bless the whole unfallen race — and not a meagre part ; 

And I pray God with fervent soul that it may take deep root, 

Grow up and choke such creeds to death, and put them under foot, 


Because they cramp our souls, rob God of all his loveliness, 

Make earth a gloomy prison-house, and kill true godliness. 

I envy not the heart of those who such a God can love, 

As can make men for endless flames, then hoist themselves above. 
It is, to me, the strongest proof I yet have ever found, 

That some, at least, of all the race are totally unsound. 

O, where’s that broad philanthropy, in men of sect and creed, 
Which God in nature doth portray to satisfy all need? 

Think ! — innocent prattling childhood is taught to think of heli — 
A place deserved by all the race, because OLp ApAm FELL! 

Our children thus are learned to hate the God they else would love ; 
While such a monster dwells on high, how dare they look above. 


No wonder there is enmity ’tween God and woman’s seed ; 

For who can truly worship God, till from such bondage freed? 

*T would seem they thought God needed help, to punish non-elected — 
Torment them ere their time had come, to harass the neglected. 

O, they are bound, not by the truth, but by John Calvin’s Creed ; 

A creed which did its brimstone hell with little infants feed: . 
A creed which can now break the bread, the bread of life — (most free !) 
Yet bid its brother Christian go, ‘* you shall not eat with me. 

You don’t believe as we believe about ‘‘ close communion” ; 

Your unbelief will get a taste, then ‘‘ down goes our union.” 

Such things as these in this our day, are practised at church dinners ; 
While Christ, the true Church Founder, ate with publicans and sinners. 
Such was my teaching till I got to be a lad in teens; 

I had no chance to know but that was God’s appointed means. 

I wept, and sighed, and sometimes prayed, but could not love their God ; 
And hence supposed, if I should die, ’'d have to bear His rod. 


The scene now changes—Father thought I'd better learn a trade, 

So sent me off ‘‘ away down East,” where an older brother staid. 
’*Twas in a thriving sea-port town — a fine large church was there — 
From steeple high, a heavy bell boomed out upon the air. 
Congregationalist it was — or Orthodox — (the same,) 

At any rate ’twas new to me, I'd scarcely heard the name. 





> hae i’ 





The Author's Religious Hxperience. 139 


The Reverend Gent who filled the desk, was eloquent.of speech ; 

J ne’er had heard the like before —O, conscience! how he’d preach ! 

One Sunday night, unwontedly, his zeal with hell was fired, 

Hence chose this text, ‘* Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required.” 
O! how he pictured out the woe of those whom God cast off ; 

‘* Now see your doom, ye proud young men, who at the church may scoff.” 


He seemed to sort of mesmerize — control my every power ; 

He opened hell in such a way, I felt that J was sent for. 

That night when I went home from church, my brain was in such plight, 
My caution so excited was, I ran with all my might ! 

Lest earth should ope and swallow me, and end my day of grace! 
And send my soul where devils reign! to hell—that fiendish place. 
This fear was not because I thought I’d carried a high hand ; 

It was because I did not feel already to be damned. 

1 reached my home, and went to bed, but could I sleep, think ye, 
With my large caution all fired up —just ready to sink me? 

I rose and prayed, — then laid me down — then rose again to pray — 
How many times I prayed that night, I cannot think to say. 


But this I know, I prayed to feel ’twas right I should be lost ; 
And promised God I would serve him, whate’er might be the cost. 
And the next night, I think it was, I went to see the man 


- Who opened hell the night before, and tried its flames to fan — 


To ask him then to pray with me, to cool my fevered brain ; 

I should go mad, I feared I should, unless he prayed for rain. 

I, verdant youth, believed that he, by prayer, could open heaven, 

And cause a shower of grace to fall, and work a ‘“‘ change,” like leaven. 
He prayed, but still I felt no change, my heart remained the same ; 

At length he closed, and wished to know if Christ I could proclaim. 

I shook my head, as if to say, I do not feel the blood, 

No cleansing of the soul, as yet, though tears ran down, a flood. 

He said I must to Calvary look, and see God’s bleeding Son ; 

God’s blood was shed for thee, he said, and every other other one 


‘¢Who will believe in God’s decrees, and think it just in Him 

To doom the soul to endless woe, for one unpardoned sin.” 

I went away just as I came, no better did I feel ; 

I could not see how blood could be applied to cleanse the soul. 

But I resolved, let come what might, that I would try to do 
According to ‘‘ the golden rule,” — now wa’n’t that right, think you? * 
I felt it was, at any rate it calmed my troubled breast ; 

So I went home and went to bed, and sleep again refreshed. 

But still I had no evidence of any spiritual birth ; 

I felt more calm, still could not feel ?d much more moral worth. 
But I’d been told ’twas faith that cured the wretched, sin-sick soul ; 
So I said, Now I will believe — I’m every whit made whole. 


I said it o’er and o’er again — I’ve got me a new heart ; 

I will believe — the work is done — for heaven [ll make a start. 
This firm resolve, you may believe, brought peace and calmness too ; 
And good resolves, my candid friends, have brought the same to you. 
But do not think that one resolve the soul to heaven elects ; 

’Tis righteous deeds, all strung along, that give the best effects, 





140 Common Sense Theology. 


Twas Sunday noon when this took place, and I to church repaired, 
Trying to feet ’d been * born again,” but still I hardly dared. 

And ere five hours had passed away, my mind was filled with doubt, — 
I feared I had deceived myself, — else Satan, was about. 

“ Lord I believe, help Thou mine unbelief,” my soul in anguish erred ; 
And then again I tried to feel that Christ for me had died. 


And thus T lived—tween faith and doubt—tween hope and wretched fear— 
My faith [no, self-esteem] was not cnough to read my title clear, 

And I thank God, to-day, my friends, I never had the power — : 
To think God partial e’en to me —’twould sadden this happy hour. 





The Parson, soon, I met again, and told him how things ran ; 
IIe smiled, and said I had been blest, — he thought me a ** new man,”— 
Aud said ’twas best for me to join his church without delay ; 
That I might see this duty clear, he wished me oft to pray. 
He asked me if I knew their faith — the doctrines of their ereed— 
J told him no, — nor did I think true faith on forms could feed ; 
Ve said it would be well, he thought, for me to read a work 
‘*On Christian Baptism,” which he had, and so I read the work ; 
But great was my surprise to find that sprinkling there was taught 
Tor baptism, and was just as good as any other sort. 
T told him that it seemed to me, Jmmersion was the way i 
That Jesus taught and practised, too, and could I have my say, 
I'd be baptized as Jesus was; but still I did not think 


_ Baptism made the Christian man, and hence I'd take the ‘ sprink.” 


Well, well, he said, and named the day when he’d perform the rite ; 
And when it came he bound my soul with creedish shackles tight. 
But one thing, though,:was rather queer, he did not bow my knee ; 
The custom is to kneel, you know, but all was new to me ; 

Before the altar I stood up, already to receive 

The .‘‘ Holy Water” from his bowl, which he’s about to give. 


Te ee 


He, seeing I did not bow down, made motion with his hand ; 

But I, so ‘*‘ green,” mistook the sign, and stepped upon the stand ; 
His hand was wet, — what could he do but sprinkle while I stood ? 
Some ‘+ special act” of God, mayhap, determined that he should. 


And now when I think o’er this fact, it seems to me ’twas well ; 

I never bowed to man-made creeds, hence truth ‘‘ I’m bound ”’ to tell; 
And therefore I’m inclined to write and speak as truth shall prompt, 
That you may not, my candid friends, in creed’s dark maze get swamped. 
So pardon me if I go slow; I want to tell the whole ; 

I'll keep with truth and let you see how travailed on my soul. 


Well, ’twa’n’t enough to be baptized ; I had to nod assent 

To many ‘articles of faith,” how could I there dissent? 

This done, what. now to hinder me from making rapid strides? 

I'd been baptized, — had joined the church, was armed upon all sides. 
I'd always hoped, from what I’'d heard, when Jesus we profess, 
Life then would be all happiness, but this ain’t so, I guess. 


At any rate, my path wa’n’t strewn with flowers of sweet perfume ; ; 
I had much doubt about my right a “ new birth” to assume ; : 


a ae 





The Author's Religious Haperience. 141 


Such special action of the Lord somehow seemed strange to me ; 
If this new birth by grace was wrought, how then could I be free ? 
But there was something my soul craved, of this I knew full well, 
But still I could not reconcile God’s love with endless hell. 

But now I see my trouble was a lack of harmony, — 

Discord, produced by bungling priests, this was my enemy. 

He’s all the devil I have found up to the present hour ; 

He’s all one ever need to fear, and priesthood yields his power 3 
For did the priests but touch aright the keys to human hearts, 

_ We’d have the music of the spheres, ere man for them departs. 





For every soul hath music, some, — anthropology teaches ; 

Man is not totally depraved, as church election preaches ; 

But as the priests don’t know themselves, how can they teach mankind? 
They’re ‘* mischie/-makers” ’tween our souls, and nature’s God, our friend. 
But Pil return and show you how I wandered through the maze 

Of myths and mysteries, up along where I on truth could gaze. 

Where I could feel to rest in peace, be satisfied with life, 

And see that God and nature’s works were not in deadly strife. 

Those young folks, now, with whom Id met in fellowship before, 
Seemed bent, all hands, on shunning me; and why? what was it for? 
It was because I had professed that God had changed my heart ; 

And hence they said (and true enough) I’d set myself apart. 


How shamed I felt, no mortal knows, to think that they should think 
That I thought God had taken me, and left them on the brink. 

No wonder that professors wear a kind of downcast look, 

Such claims must necessarily give true modesty a shock. 

He who lays claims to ‘*‘ special grace” from ‘ universal love,” 
Has not a fitness yet complete, to lift him high above. | 

A faith so selfish sure would choose the highest seat to fill ; 

At “thy right hand” Ill take my seat, Great Father, grant my will ! 
Here let me say what my soul feels : Ne’er lived the man on earth, 
Who worshipped God with pure intent, that claimed miraculous birth ; 
For who can serve as parent, him who loves not all the race? 

To ask God’s aid to save from hell, is mockery to his face. 


It doth presume that he’s not good, at most not good enough 

To fit the whole, so fits afew! Away this slanderous stuff! 

If God is good, and has the power to save and bless one soul, 

Then that same goodness and that power will save and bless the whole. 
What! call that goodness infinite, which don’t embrace the whole? 
And call that power omnipotent, which saves not every soul? 

Can God be quite impartial, and save a chosen few ? 

Make heaven for the elected, and hell for me and you? 

O Father, I would not be found with love of man so small, 

I could not help the meanest one that ever lived at all! 

But what’s my love, great God, to thine? as but one drop in earth’s ocean ; 
How safely, then, may all hope for eternal progression | 


Well, I wagged along as best I might, and tried to bear the cross, 
But ah! how little joy I felt, for such a constant fuss ! 
I prayed at night, I prayed at morn, I went to every meeting, — 
And there I prayed, — and there I talked, — told sinners life was fleeting, 


142 Common Sense Theology. 


Till by and by my pastor thought (I was was so bright a light) 
I'd better learn divinity, teach Orthodoxy right. 

In order to get well inspired, I must through college go, 

Then pass in a divinity-school some three years more or so. > 
So down I threw my joiner tools, to Bangor went to school ; 
And pored o’er Latin and the Greek, like any other fool, 

Till I broke down, and lost my health, dyspepsia it brought on, 
And for six months I could not look into a lexicon. 


J’d ne’er been taught that I had got a body to be saved, 
And hence I studied day and night, until my body caved ; 
But while so sick, I had a chance to ponder matters o’er ; 

_I wondered why God’s providence afflicted me so sore. 

T could not eat, F could not sleep, nor could I work at all; 
My vitals were as sore as if ’'d had a dreadful fall. 

If God determined I should be a minister of grace, 

Why didn’t he look out for me, and help me run the race? 
If God had called me to prepare to fill the holy pulpit, 

Why did he take my health away? I answered as a culprit. 
I felt J ran without a call, or else the voice I heard 

Was Parson Z’’s, and not my God’s; such calls I thought absurd. 


And hence, when health returned again, I hastened to my brother, 
Took up the tools I had thrown down, and said, ‘* I cannot bother ; ” 
It could not be God wanted me to study out my life ; 

Then why should I go on and die, with nature make such strife? 

I worked again, and health improved ; but never to this day 

Have I been well, because I did that preacher’s call obey. 

Well, all these daa experiences stirred up my thinking powers, 

And made me feel I had a right to question even preachers. 

And furthermore I felt that I had an inherent right 

To quiz the Church, draw out its views, and hold them up to light. 
If they were right — were good and true — they'd bear to be discussed ; 
If wrong, then every one should know — by error she’s disgraced. 


Tf churches were the means to bring poor sinners back to God, 

How could its members sleep in church, — in social meetings nod? 
Orthodox conference meetings seemed too cold and formal, quite, 

To satisfy my earnest soul and make me feel “ all right.” 

T could not see why woman should be kept so sfzd/ in church, 

When some had better gifts, J knew, than many men had, much! 

They must have souls ! — I knew they’d tongues, — could talk like a coun- 
Then why not speak? The answer is, old Paul was a bachelor. [sellor; 
Hence I began to think, my friends, that Orthodoxy might, 

Without much effort, be improved, so I bid them *‘Good-night,” 

Then called upon the Methodists; they cordially said ‘+ come, 

We'll all together worship God, and help cach other other home.” 


We talked, and prayed, and sang, all hands, the women well as men; 
And they shouted hallelujah, still I wa’n’t happy then, 

Because the Methodistic God, although somewhat more kind, 

Had not those lovely attributes my soul in a God would find. 

He’d love and hate, and come and go, according to caprice ; 

The Devil ruled tull half the time, how could a “soul find peace? 


Ws, 


The Author's Religious Experience. 143 


Why not? Because there was a chance, however good to-day, 
To-morrow by temptation pressed, from grace we fall away. 

And then no matter what the change we’d met with heretofore, 
‘We'd have to be born o’er again, or take God’s wrath in store ; — 
For all who do not ‘run the race,” —‘‘ hold out unto the end,” 
They had a hell into which God would every laggard send. 


Yes, Christian I might be to-day, a devil ere to-morrow ; 

My hand on heaven’s latch might get, and yet lie down in sorrow ; 
Bat still I knew no better God, and hoped he was my friend ; 

I prayed I might ‘* prove faithful,” and ‘‘ hold out to the end.” 
But ah! he did not fill my soul, I could not feel just right ; 

I searched the Word to find him out, but could not love the sight. 
Sometimes I’d read that ‘* God is love,” sometimes ‘* consuming fire,” 
Sometimes I’d try to court his grace, sometimes to shun his ire. 
But thinking that the fault must be in my ‘* poor sinful mind,” 
How earnestly I prayed that God would help me truth to find, — 
Take from me “sinful unbelief,” and give me faith so strong, 
That I might hide myself in him, and never more do wrong. 


But all my prayers and all my tears ne’er brought the hoped-for rest ; 
I never for one moment felt that I'd been specially blest ; 

For Heaven gives no special gifts, His blessings all are common, 

And come through his unchanging laws, to every man and woman. 

My heart was always going forth, for something not obtained ; 

That something now, O thanks to God! this wearied heart has gained. 
What is that something? do you ask? ’tis harmony within, — 

It is the rzght to call God Goon, and save myself from sin. 


But by and by ‘* Old Miller” came, with a doleful sound ; 

The elements were about to melt, if not the solid ground. 

He blowed, he said, the Bible trump, to wake the world to see 

That Christ in person would come to earth, some time in ‘ Forty-three.” 
He searched the records of the past, the prophesies laid bare ; 

He spake as if he’s called of God, to make the people stare ; 

He reasoned well, he seemed sincere, the Bible was his guide, — 

If this was true, the Bridegroom must be ready for the bride. 

My caution large, — my conscience quick, —I prayed to know the truth, 
And felt that I must take right hold, and help to save the youth. 

The arguments, both pro and con, I weighed with all my power ; 

‘+ No man knoweth,” shout the creeds, the day nor yet the hour. 


The day and hour he never claimed, the year alone was asked ; 

This argument so often used, was very much too fast ; 

So I felt fully satisfied, if Bible was all right, 

We must be living in that age the Scripture termed ‘* midnight.” 
And, as they did not bow my knee, when they put on the creed, 

I stood erect and had a right to sow the Advent seed. 

The ‘ midnight ery” I sure did sound, with all my voice and might ; 
And every dollar that I had, I spent to give the light. 

I showed my faith by earnest works, as every man should do ; 

With Hell a-gaping for poor souls, how could I rest, think you? 








144 Common Sense Theology. 7 ; 


The man who said that Christ would come, and didn’t spend his all, 
Would ery ‘* good Lord, good Devil,” — not knowing where he’d fall. 


Well, ‘‘ Forty-three” passed by, you know, and Forty-seven came, 
And that passed by, and still the world wagged on again the same. 
Ah! did it though? Why not, say you; hold on my friend, hark well! 
What mean those gentle Fox-girls’ raps ! Can anbody tell? 

Yea, I am bold to say ’tis Christ, in Spirit he has come, 

And not in person, as Miller thought, to strike the world ‘‘all dumb!” 
Just like a thief Christ said he’d come, and in the night-time, too ; 

‘This Scripture he did well fulfil, if any, this is true. 

And just so sure as the old Jews could not see Christ at first, 

Then just so sure our churches now in that same way are cursed. 

The babe in manger was too low to suit their prompous pride ; 

And then he rode an asses’ colt: How could their King thus ride? 

So now the raps, the table tips, the proofs that spirits give, 

Are all so low, so trivial, how can the church receive. 


They scem to think Christ must have lost his humble, lowly turn, — 

Has joined the aristocracy ! and when he comes, will burn 

All up, except the ‘‘ Upper Tens,” who are so very prim, 

They cannot kneel to say their prayers, or sit with darker skin ; 

But think they’ll banish from the land these messengers of love? 

No, no my friends, they never can, —they’re prompted from above. 

Not by any ‘‘ special”? move of God’s unchanging mind, 

Bat by those laws which clearly prove how Christ could heal the blind. 
They’ll bring around the glorious time, by prophets.spoken of, — 

When none shall say, ‘‘ Know thou the Lord!” for all shall know and love. 


Spiritualism has already gained more converts to its wisdom path, 

Than did Christianity gain in three centuries and a half. 

"Twill not avail to say it is Beelzecbub the Prince, 

He had his day long years ago, some Eighteen Hundred since. 

Why do our preachers say the same as did the Scribes of old? 

Because they can’t get round the facts which prove by creeds they’re sold. 
When every other effort failed to bring the raps to terms, 

They all ery out, ‘* It is the Devil,” — more prey for hell he yearns. 

If I had faith in that Arch Fiend, so potent in the creeds, 

I’d sooner think he’s working there to blind them to their needs. 

The form of godliness they have, but where’s the vital part ? © f 
It is the truth, not creed, men want, to sanctify the heart. 


When *47 had passed away, and Christ came not in clouds ; | 
I doubted if he’d ever come, and felt like one in shrouds. : a 
My Bible then I laid aside, and said It cannot be 
Entirely reliable, — it sure had cheated me. 

And my religious faculties I felt must need a rest ; 

So I resolved to study man, and see if he’d been cursed, 

My reason said that Pope’s advice to youth, 

Must be to every thinking man, the truth: 

‘* Kow thou thyself, presume not God to scan, 

The proper study of mankind is man.” 


q — The Author's Religious Hauperience. 145 


My reason, also, said that all the various isms and creeds, 

_ Were founded, as was Millerism, on books, not righteous deeds. 
And could they all but have the test that Millerism has had, 
They’d all be wounded, sick or dead, they’d every one be sad. 


Not one has any means of proof; they all run out of time ; 

Science and reason both deride — with them there is no chime. 
They’ve much beginning, but their end is hidden from our view ; 

So they harp on as though they knew that every part were true. 

But thanks to God, the time has come when death don’t shield their head ; 
A telegraph now runs between the living and the dead. 

This Spirit Rapping makes them blush, declares them much at fault ; 
It shows them up so glaringly, true minds at once revolt. 

But, why suffered God the Millerites to hug that monstrous error? 
Because God never interferes, ‘‘ He’s changeless forever.” 

And the very fact that thousands of humble, praying souls 

Believed in Miller’s theory, to me this truth unfolds ; — 

That Heaven has no favors for any clique nor creed; 

But universal blessings, he scatters as we need. 

And this same rule holds good for all the zsms of the race ; 

‘Though labelled Evangelical, and built on special grace. 


The doctrines of Phrenology now cheered my weary mind ; 
Cleared up this creed-born mystery, which always had been blind, > 
If all men are alike depraved, by nature and by birth, 

’ Why then so wide a difference in point of moral worth? 
This problem, so tofally dark, says bold Phrenology, 
Is but a child of history, born of old Theology. 
Tfe’s a crooked dog, still his gait is like despotism crowned ;. 
I{e’s very old, and he has been through priestcraft much renowned. 
He’s older ah he ought to be, has lived in awful strife, 
And I have come, Phrenology says, to rob him of his life. 
Phrenology has bled him well, he staggers in alarm ; 
He grows so lame, and is so moe he can’t do much more harm. 


Like old Belshazzar he has been in righteous balances weighed ; 

His *‘Mene, mene, tekel, upnarsin,” Phrenology has well displayed. 
But ere he dies, the friends of truth should have his shroud prepared, 
For such a rotten, filthy corpse should quickly be interred, 

Lest seeds from this malignant stock take root and grow again, 

And stamp men’s souls as heretofore with his depraving stain. 

But oh, when this foul monster dies, this Kine of false theology ; 
The ‘* curse,” the ‘ fall,” the ‘* atonement,” will then have no apology. 
When this takes place, ’tis plainly seen, one birth is all men need ; 
The second birth, as taught to-day, is another child of creed. 

What need of birth while life remains, and animates the frame; 

To pray for birth while yet we dive, now seems to me quite tame. 


New births make infants small and weak, poor, puny, helpless things ; 
It is not birth men need, but growth, ’tis this true manhood brings. 

If true reform cannot take place, without ‘* miraculous birth,” 

Then who’s to blame, though vile he be, while burdened by the curse ? 
Who’d any choice in his first birth? Then who the second can choose? 
Pray, who can suffer any loss, who’s nothing yet to lose? 





146 Common Sense Theology. 


If my first birth gives not the germ from which true manhood springs, 
O God! do give the second birth, I hate all devilish things. 

But such a prayer I feel is vain, I have the germ within, 

Which, rightly nurtured, will produce a life quite free from sin. 
Phrenology discloses this, and wipes away that stain 

From off the character of God, which else would still remain. 


Phrenology gives us the key with which we can unlock 
Full many a mystery, of old theology’s stock. 
It teaches man to learn himself, and learn his fellow man ; 
And says no Bible ever made, displays so wise a plan. 
It well tanght me I’s made to be, a showman, if I would ; 
So I took hold in earnest, friends, as though I thought I could. 
How I made out, judge ye who know — I’m satisfied for one ; ; 
Phrenology I hope may be the teacher of my son. 
_Lest some might think it was not right to get one’s money so, 
I’d say it very much depends on what you “choose to show. 
I showed the Natural Sciences, and trust I made men feel. 
The knowledge got, was cheaply bought — I have no heart to steal. 


Well, while I travelled o’er the land, I heard the gentle taps ; 
They puzzled me exceedingly ; whence came those wondrous raps? 
No matter where I went, which way — what county, town, or state — 
I'd hear the raps or see the tips, else writing on the slate. 
At first I feared ’twas all a hoax, and thought I’d stand aloof ; 
But by and by my spirit-friends gave me what I called proof. 
My mother came to one, whom I had never seen before, 
And by the medium she portrayed, what touched me to the core. 
My mother died a sudden death — just how that medium told ; 
She almost died herself, to prove I was not being sold, 
She made the cry my mother made, when the palzy seized her frame ; 
She told me, too, just where she was, the moment when it came. 


The room, the chair in which she sat, the persons round the fire ; 
These all were strikingly described, what more could I desire? 

Two sisters, then, she well described, their persons, looks and hair ; 
Their death she also spake about, the how — the when —the where. 


And other things, too numerous for me to mention here, a 
They gave as tests, to make me feel I never more need fear. s 
And never more will I, my friends; their visits give me power ; 
To bear the scoffs and jeers of men, though come they like a shower. ‘ 
They teach me I should trust myself, though hosts might seek my fall — 3 
Let onward be my motto, and duty be my call. P 
Long years, since then, have passed way, and many things I’ve seen, 4 
To prove that angels visit men, their minds from earth to wean. 7 
o 

They come to show that when we go o’er Jordan, by and by, B 
We have friends there to show us where owr mansion is on high. 4 


oe ‘ 


On heavenly land we all may stand, then hope for higher ground ; 
Those rise the best who help the rest, and are not selfish found. 
But over there they do declare that hell’s a mythic fable ; 

They teach us this so we can’t miss, by rapping on the table. 








The Author's Religious Haperience. 147 


Creed’s brimstone hell they cannot smell, except they ope the Bible ; 
And then no where, except in there, can they find the Devil. 

They prove that God hath not a rod of wrathful vengeance, there, 
To make men hop as doth a top, and drive them to despair ; 

But that above the theme is love, more fitting heavenly spheres ; 
And they profess men do progress upwards for endless years. 


Spee Pe ee a 


The spirits teach what men do preach, when nature is their guide ; 
And when both worlds the truth unfurls, their teaching I’ll abide ; 
But churches here teach us to fear our Heavenly Father’s ire. 

No parent here is so severe as is our Heavenly Sire. 

This graceless thought is surely taught, by churches all around ; 
But spirits say, no distant day, the churohes they'll confound. 
That monstrous error — the reign of terror— is being blotted out ; 
The churches find they have been blind, hence some begin to doubt. 
Still others say there is no way to save our souls from hell, 

But to give up, with them take sup, our souls to creeds must sell. 
They say that we must look and be, by Jesus’ blood made whole ; 
But can you see how this can be? Can blood redeem the soul? 


Not all the blood since Noah's flood has made one sinner whole ! 
’Tis righteous deeds, the mortal needs, to sanctify his soul. 

Can any man, by any plan, save us from just desert ? 

The laws of God have each a rod, who breaks them must get hurt. 
Christ taught us well how to shun hell, and live in heaven on earth, — 
Conform to law — God’s inward law —this gives us his new birth. 
His narrow gate, so very straight, is plainly, simply this: 

Obey God’s laws — or nature’s laws — and heaven you cannot miss. 
That road so broad, so very broad, that leads to constant woe, 

Is error’s track, which takes us back to Jewish rites so low. 

Hence let us try, before we die, to get on nature’s track ; 

And ereeds disdain, for in the main they’re sure to draw us back. 





If we would rise, gain virtue’s prize, and enter spheres above, 
Then must we work, yea, always work, and let our rvle be love. 
For if we’d stand by truth well manned, and light in darkness give, 
With God and man in-nature’s plan, we must in harmony live. 

9 
If ever saved, we must be saved by efforts of our own ; 
Unless we wait, take nature’s gate, which slowly plaits the crown. 


Thus, candid friends, have I spoken; prompted by my love of right 5; 
And if I’ve erred, then it has been not for lack of love, but light ; 
For I would not, for my right hand, say aught to lead astray ; 

Nor would I cover up my light, though Priesteraft turn away. 

And every candid soul must feel, who's waiting for the light, 
There’s ** more of truth than poetry,” in what D’ve tried to (rite: 
Let us then all, as honest souls, live up to Nature’s truth ; 

A pattern thus we’ll prove to be, for emulating youth. 

Tis not the outward covering that makes us men and women, 

Nor is it so much church-going that fits us well for heaven. 

Tis living wp to reason’s lig ht — obeying what we know. 

Your: BeAr responds amen to this — ads angels say — ‘** That’s so.’” 





148 | Common Sense Theology. 


 RECAPITULATION. 
AN EPITOME OF COMMON-SENSE DOCTRINES CONTAINED IN THIS BOOK. 


HOW THINGS SEEM TO A ‘“ FREEDMAN.” 
To the Reader. ee 
You'll find below just how things seem to one who can’t be cramped, 
’Tis my “Assembly’s Catechism,” revised, improved, revamped. 
Who, and What is God ? 
God is the Law— the Love—the Life of Nature — All-pervading, 
The Sum of All Intelligence — eternally progressing. 
Has God a Body ? 
God’s best embodiment is man — the climax of Creation — 
The compound of all elements — the promise of perfection. 
How may we Approach Him ? 

Through Science mainly we approach unto the Great Unknown, ~ 
Through Mental Science, more than all, is God most subtly shown. 
Where is His Dwelling-place ? 

What nonsense ’tis to locate God — divorce him from his Station, — 

Where can you find him, ask your soul, if not in his Creation? 
What is His Government ? 

His Government is law inherent, unswerving in its course, 

No prayers can ever alter it “for better or for worse.” 

. | Who, and What is the Devil ? 
The uncontrolled propensity of heads too full at the base, 
Now answers well to all the Devil that ever cursed the race. 
What gave him Being ? 

"Twas ignorance of God and man that gave the Devil being, 

But since the light of Mental Science the Devil has been fleeing. 
What of Heaven and Hell ? 

Heaven is the sphere of happiness — the state of being blest. 

Hell is just the Opposite — the sphere of all unrest. 


What of Virtue and Vice ? 
Virtue, is obedience to our reason’s highest light, 
Vice, is but the doing that which conscience deems not right. 


What of the New Birth ? 


°Tis no mysterious marvel — this being born again, 

"Tis giving conscientious reason the right to hold the rein — 

"Tis moving up out of animal self into the spiritual realm — 
Where the spiritual man can take the lead and govern at the helm. 


¥ 


= eT 





Recapitulation. 149 


What is Truth ? 
Truth is but the real soul of all that may exist, 
And search for it will not admit of e’en the slightest twist. 
What does Truth Show ? 


Truth shows the working of God’s laws —the bent of Deity’s 
mind — ' [inclined. 
The channel that God’s thoughts run in —the way that God’s 
How shall we find the Truth ? 

To find the truth trace Nature’s laws —’tis seen in their effect, 
The only way to learn the truth is squarely to dissect. 

Whence cometh Evil ? 
In the ignorance of men and the crudeness of matter, 
Lies the origin of Evil, with all the Devil’s clatter. 

Whence cometh Sin ? 


’Tis ignorance that genders sin — wisdom wouldn't allow it. 
Never did man one foolish deed who's wise enough to shun it. 


What is Wisdom ? 


Wisdom is that gathered sense which takes a look ahead, 
And saves the coming future from sorrow, shame and dread. 


Whence cometh Wisdom ? 
Experience is the real source from which all knowledge flows — 
It is the world’s great schoolmaster, as all past history shows. 
What is “ The One Thing Needful” ? 


Wisdom is the principal thing, so wise old Solomon said, 
For all who have enough of it by sin will not be led. 


When will Man cease to do Hvil ? 
When wisdom joins his interest with duty’s honest claim, 
He'll do the right most willingly, though Devil be his name. 
Where is God’s Throne ? 
God has his throne in man’s top brain, the court of moral feeling, 
And would perfect his every part, did man admit his ruling. 
Does Man’s Moral Organs need any Change ? 

Man’s moral organs need no change, they’re always good as new, 
But what they want is more of strength, to rule the man all through. 
What of the Lower Organs ? 

The lower organs, too, are good, if only led aright, 
But, being blind, they need a guide — they lack for moral light. 
Should we ask God to Save ? 


No use to spend your breath in prayer, in hopes that God will save, 
Till you with honest heart resolve no more to act the knave. 


150 Common Sense Theology. 


; What of Jesus — Was He“ Very God”? 
A God, methinks, would ne’er have need to be tempted of the 
Or hold a fast of forty days to fortify ’gainst evil. [ Devil, 
Was He“ tHE Son of God”? 
He was simply Son of Man, — so happily endowed 
With gifts and graces heavenly, the pious called him Lord. 

Are there no Sons of God ? 
Yea, all men are the sons of God, if true to truth and right, 
If all in love with God vr good, and so are full of light. 

Was He not “ One with the Father”? 

Christ based Himself on principles so spiritual and true, 
He felt a oneness with his God — disciples ought to, too. 

How came He on the Harth ? 
"Tis Nature’s aim, where’er she can, to gender human souls, 
And when conditions will allow a Jesus she unfolds. 

Whence His Exaltation ? 

Conditions most exquisite had expression in Christ’s birth, 
And hence His grand ascendancy — his loveliness and worth. 

Was Mis Birth Miraculous ? 
His parents may have been entranced at time of His conception, 
And all concerned quite honest in this marvellous deception. 

Was He Deceived about Himself ? 
Christ may have thought he were begot in some miraculous way, 
Because so much more spiritual than the people of his day. 
Why was he called “ The Son of God”? 
This is the reason why he was proclaimed the Son of God — 
He was so finely organized, clairvoyance toned his word . 
Was He a“ Saviour ”? 
A Saviour he may well be called — he taught a better way 
Than men had lived before his time — his teachings save to-day. 
Should we have “ Faith in Him”? 

No faith in Christ is worth a groat that does not mind his teaching, 
He has no friendship but with those who after truth are reaching. 
Should we “ Bow to Him”? 

No soul can fully enter heaven that does not bend to him, 

Or to the principles he taught — Heaven founds itself on them. 

Does “ Christ's Blood Atone for Sin”? 

Not all the blood, since Noah’s flood, has made one sinner whole; 

"Tis righteous deeds, the mortals needs, to sanctify his soul. gq 
Was His “ Blood Precious ”? 

His Blood was precious from the fact ’twas shed in truth’s defence, 

But still the ¢ruth and not the b/ood gave Christ’s Omnipotence. 





Recapitulation. 151 


What Signifies Coming to Christ? 
“Come unto me” is simply this — Come to thine honest self; 
Resolve, henceforth, to live for truth, and not alone for pelf. 
What is True Religion? 

True religion is true manhood: all our powers in good attune ; 
Then every action is devotion, like singing of the birds in June. 
Has True Religion any Priesthood? 

True religion knows no priesthood, follows reason day and night ; 
Calls no man Master, spurns all creed, hears no command, save 
this: Do right. 
How Shall we know what is the Right? 

And if you’d know what is the right, ask your reason, not your 
Thy God within, if sought unto, with every sin will cope. [pope, 
Does True Religion Imply any “Cross ”? 

There ll be no cross for man to bear when true religion rules ; 
*Tis the unnaturalness of creeds which makes religious tools. 


When will Worship be True and Easy? 


When man is rightly understood and God with nature blends, 
We'll worship with as much of ease as we shake hands with friends. 


Whence Comes “ Enmity to God”? 


As well have enmity between the trees and Nature’s Sun, 
As ’tween our souls and Nature’s God, but for the * Evil One.” 


And Whence Comes the Devil’s Power? 


Ah! he gets all his power from priests, of them he’s born and bred ; " 
Through him the love of God is crushed by constant fear and dread. 


Were Satan Dead, and Hell shut up, What then? 


Were Satan dead and Hell shut up, we’d love God old and young, 
And praise to him would surely rise from every lip and tongue. 


Who holds the Keys to Heaven ? 
Virtue alone has got the key to open Heaven's door: 
Who mans his ship with righteous deeds will never run ashore. 
What about the Resurrection ? 
Clairvoyance with its spirit eye declares its power to see 
The spirit body organize when death the soul sets free. 
Dow't that Contradict Paul ? 
Had Paul have seen the butterfly come out the homely worm, 
He might have seen that bodies may have form within a form. 
How Dare you talk so about Paul ? 


Has human reason naught to do with what the Bible teaches? 
Shall God in nature cease his work when Saul of Tarsus preaches? 


152 Common Sense Theology. 


What of the Orthodox Endless Hell ? 
Long has it swashed a blazing sign of superstitious dread, 
A libel on the God of Love —a stigma on the dead. 
Who was it Made for ? 
Ah, me! where is the man or woman who has a friend in hell? 
That place was made for other folks, with ours it must be’2vell. 
What Great Discovery bears on this Question ? 
The intellect of this late age this great discovery hatches, 
That brimstone has its finest use in well-made lucifer matches. 
And were it Scarce, What Then ? 
And were it scarce, progressive minds would form a corporation, 
Build tunnel railroads down to Hell, and dip it from perdition. 
What tf they found the Devil there ? 
And should they find the Devil there a-writhing in his treasure, 
Their sympathies would hoist him out and give him a ride of — 
pleasure. 
Are Hells and Devils Coming to an End ? 
Yes, the age of Hells and Devils is coming to an end, 
To hasten on the gladsome time my powers I'll gladly lend. 
Hasn't God any Place of Punishment ? 
Shall man be taught to curb his wrath and render good for evil, 
While God’s allowed to whet his ire and send men to the Devil? 
What ts the Word of God ? 
Every truth’s a Word of God, though wrote by Greek or Jew, 
And upright souls will never spurn what reason says is true. 
Isn’t the “ Holy Bible” “ God’s Book”? 
Ah! Nature is the only Book God e’er has penned for man ; 
In it we all may read alike, dispute it ye who can. 
Who are its Preachers ? 
The Sciences its preachers are — they teach us of that God 
Who never changes, ne’er repents, nor shakes a tyrant’s rod. 
Who are the Infidels ? 
Let those alone be infidels who are unfaithfal to 
Whatever in their heart of hearts they think is good and true. 
Who are the Sanctified ? 
All those are truly sanctified who have an honest heart, 
For honest hearts eschew all sin, wherever it may start. 
Who are the Elected ? 
Happy is he whose balancing power lies in his upper brain: 
He’s called elected, saved, enthroned, in righteousness shall reign. 





Recapitulation. 153 


Fow shall we Pray? 


The greatest prayer that e’er was made by any mortal man,[done. 
Is that which cries from inmost soul — Thy will, Great God, be 


What Helps us on? 


One reasoning thought about the truth will set us farther on 


Than months and years of stupid prayers unto the Great Unknown. 


Shall we Listen to the Angels? 


The angels teach, what men do preach, where nature is their guide, 


And when both worlds the truth unfurls, their teachings Pll abide. 


Should we not ask a Blessing at Table? 
This asking blessings over food is childish, say the least, 
The hungry stomach knows no God except the ready feast. 


Should we “ Return Thanks” ? 


Returning thanks for what has come in pleasure to our dish, 
Is not so inappropriate. — Be as thankful as you wish. 


Should we Baptize ? 


Baptizing is but empty show of meekness rarely lived, 
And by it many a graceless saint has thus the world deceived. 


When will these Forms Cease? 


These outward forms must all die out as men progress to see 
That virtue, not profession, is the badge of all the free. 


Ts there no Special Providence ? 


If God by special action has made each one as he is, 

Then he’s a mighty partialist, if we’ve a right to quiz. 

But if through general laws, by circumstances bent, 

Our diff'rences could not be helped, why then we’ve no complaint. 


Does God never Dicker ? 


God dickers not, nor steps aside to please one single soul. 
How can a Universal God but represent the whole? 

He never hears one single prayer that’s out of joint with law — 
To him no faith but lawful faith is worth a single straw. 

‘Tis nothing but low selfishness that claims God’s special aid, 


ro) 
That arm which bears creation up, lean on, be not afraid. , 


Whence the Idea of Providence ? 


All Special Providence, I deem, had origin with spirits — 

Those in the flesh and out the flesh — there rests its only merits. 
All through the past, the same as now, the Angels have been doing 
What ignorance ascribed to God — the Church is still pursuing. 
But thanks unto the Hydesville raps, they’ve rent the veil in twain, 
That hid the hand of Providence, —and now the thing is plain. 


» 


154 : Common Sense Theology. 


Whence Cometh Man? % 


Kind Nature has for ages worked to get the human soul, 
And gotten well her purpose is to march it to the goal. 
Is Existence her richest Boon ? 
Existence is the richest boon that Nature can bestow, 
And if in some ’tis feeble, there’s chance enough to grow. 
Fow long ts Man’s probation ? 
Man has a whole eternity to learn what he don’t know, 
And though he learn but slowly, still onward he must go. 
What is the Proof ? 


If progress be the innate law of human nature here, 
It is a law forever, so do not doubt or fear. 


Whose Chance is Best ? 
’Tis hard to tell whose chance is best by what we see to-day, 
The clown or dunce may have the germ of royalty and sway. 
Is it safe to Despise ? 
Some learn by intuition what others get from books. 
Let none despise another for cumption or for looks. 
What is God’s general Mode of Procedure ? 
He takes the crudest chaos and works it into man, 
Then takes the crudest manhood and grows it all he can. 
What if Conditions are Bad ? 
Sometimes, conditions being hard, he starts a homely style, 
But being the best he then could do, he’s happy all the while. 
Tf such act Bad, What then ? 
If such don’t act. so prettily he does not scold nor fret, 


: 


There’s plenty time to scour them up, and he'll perfect them yet. 


When and How ? 
Sooner or later, according to their crudeness and the chance 
He has to bring his laws to bear, and fix them for advance. 
How long may he be Saving Some ? 

He may be ages saving some, who were conceived in sin, 

Who got existence near the brute, yet even such he’ll win. 
How does God manage Them ? 

His laws do all the punishing, and all the blessing too, 

He reigns in perfect faithfulness, hence peace is his all through. 
What only does He Ask ? 


He only asks for time to make such changes in condition 
As shall.unfold the germ within and bring it to fruition. 


“4 





Recapitulation. 155 


Who is the Wise Man ? 


He is the wise man who doth strive with all his might and main 


To get the mast’ry of himself; and rounded manhood ¢ gain. 


Who is the Foolish Man ? 
He is but foolish who doth fail to make the most of I. 
Self-gain, soul-gain is all the gain that is not doomed to die. 
Who is the Fortunate Man ? 


Good fortune comes alone to him who grows in moral worth — 
He’s richest who shows longest lines of progress from his birth. 


Who is the Man of Pluck ? 


Give me the man who’s got the pluck to do just right, just now— 
In future he may sup with kings, though he now drive the plow. 


, Who inherits the Richest Dower ? 
A mighty dower he inherits who has been nobly born, 


_And great the mortgage on his life who has a birth forlorn. 


Who ts the Vile Man ? 


Vile is the man who taints his blood with tobacco and with rum, 
And then transmits these hankerings to children ere they’re born. 


Who ts the Vile Woman ? 


It seems to me if any woman deserves to fail of heaven, 


It is the one who kills her babes before she’s borne her seven. 


Can Woman do more for the Race than Man ? 
That grand old Beecher mother did far greater work by birth, 
Than ever good old Lyman did with all his pulpit worth. 
What, then, is the Chief Duty of Woman ? 
With circumstances appropriate, no woman can do better, 
Than to train herself for motherhood. All manhood is her debtor. 
What is the Sweetest Name ? 
As being is the richest gift a mother can bestow, 
So mother i is the sweetest name we mortals ever know. 
When is our World growing Bright ? 
When noble men, and noble women, in love and pure delight, 
Are joined by holy purposes, the world is growing bright. 
| Why so ? 
For nature will, when love prevails, in true harmonic union, 
Advance upon the parent stock, and hence the world’s progression. 


Is Nature dependent on Conditions ? 


She cannot germ a noble soul, with bad conditions rife, [life. 


But does the best she can Bch time; rich boon, though poor, our 


ae a 


156 Common Sense Theology. 


seek! 


Is Man“ A Poor Fallen Being” ? 
Man is not fallen — ne’er was up — is rising evermore, [before. 
And when grown wise he’ll cease from sin; Gods know he won't 
Why are Men and Things no better ? 
All.things in heaven and in earth —in spirit and in letter, : 
Are just as good as God can have, without more time to better. , 
Has not God all Power ? ‘ 
Controlled by law and circumstance ’twas not in Heaven’s power 
To make men better than they are, up to the present hour. 
What ts the Proof ? 
If so, ’twere evidence that God had scarcely done his duty, 
Which most profoundly militates against his moral beauty. 
: Should any Murmur ? 
Would non-existence be preferred to life in lowly g cruise? 
Each beating heart cries O! no! no!— the meanest life’s a prize. 
Is Man Free ? 


Man’s free to do whate’er he wills, if so it be he can, 
But whence the force that sets his will ?— that lies aback. the man. 


Has Man no Will of his Own ? 


Man’s will is but another wheel in God’s machine of fate, 
And all essential to the gear, though it be all inate. 


How does it Work ? 


It works the same as does his heart, by forces brought to bear, 
And whether weak or strong in him, is owing to the gear. 


If Fate be true, Where’s Accountability ? 


The grandest truth of fate is this — the innate laws of God, 
Make man account for every deed with an unflinching rod. 


Why ts it Thus ? 


No other way could man be taught the lessons of existence, 

The fitness of the laws of life — the felly of resistance — 

No other way could man attain to knowledge or to bliss — 
Since all things would unstable be, if it were not for this. 


Does not Wisdom Produce Freedom ? 
The power to reason has its source in eternal freedom, 
And when perfected will deliver every soul from thraldom. 
But while man’s wisdom is perfecting, he’ll be swaying to and fro, 
Now be sinning— now repenting — till he learns just how to go. 
Fate and Wisdom are like wedges head to point inclined, 
Fate grows less as wisdom strengthens, freedom’s at the upper end. 








Recapitulation. 157 


Is“ Total Depravity” True ? 
No. Every soul is germed with Good — without it man’s not man. 
If you would find it, probe the soul —’tis in the Deity’s plan. 


Iswt the Good much Covered up in Some? 


In some ’tis covered up so deep you'd hardly think ’twas there, 


But dig away ancestral sins — the diamond you'll lay bare. 
What is the Chief End of Man? 


Happiness is the end and aim of every living man, 


_ To get it, all are purposing in every act and plan. 


Why are not all Men Happy? 
Though all men seek for happiness with all their wisdom’s might, 
They often fail to get it, through lack of wisdom’s light. 
Whence comes Happiness ? 
Every organ in man’s brain is in itself the source 
Of pure and solid happiness, when rightly used, of course. 
What ts the Whole Sum? 
The whole sum of man’s happiness is in direct proportion 
To the number of his faculties he keeps in good condition. 
Can Dishonest Men be Happy? 
As well to try to leave one’s self — go journeys without start — 
As hope for much of happiness, ’thout honesty of heart. 
What is Honesty of Heart ? 


An honesty which reaches more than outward acts with men, — 
It touches all the springs of life, and makes one’s métives clean. 


Are all Men Born Free and Equal ? 
Men are not free nor equal born in either brains or brass, 
Their differing constitutions must forever gender class. 
What Belongs to Each Alike ? 
The straight pursuit of happiness belongs to high and low, 
And but for birth and circumstance there’d be no chance to crow. 
Will Man ever be Perfected ? 
"Tis Nature’s aim to perfect man — his suffering destroy — 
To build in him a sinless heaven, forever to enjoy. 
How will it be Accomplished ? 
In order to accomplish this she urges self-control — 
By hook, or by crook, you must learn this, or else in misery roll. 
Why Roll in Misery ? 
God’s laws all have their penalties, which he who breaks must 
So those who lay their eggs in vice, in misery must hatch. [catch, 


158 Common Sense Theology. 


Is Man Entirely Selfish ? 


Man’s nothing but pure selfishness from beginning unto end, 


And he’ll be selfish, too, forever, whate’er he may pretend. 


Is there no such Thing as Self-sacrifice ? 


Self-sacrifice in virtue’s path is only self-protection, 
Well prompted by the higher self to save t -¢ degradation. 


Did Selfishness lead Christ to the Cross? 
The higher selfishness of Christ led him to Calvary’s Cross, 
He’d sooner lose his animal life than suffer spiritual loss. 

What is the Consequence ? 

In consequence he reigns to-day the Christian’s human God, 
Self-sacrifice exalted him to be the planets’ Lord. 

Did He not Preach an Unselfish Gospel ? 
Christ’s Gospel all is founded on God’s judgments and rewards, 
A straight appeal to selfishness, his Gospel well affords. 

Is not Seeking Others’ Good Unselfish ? 


No man can seek another’s good ’thout seeking, too, his own, 


Who plans to save another’s soul, adds stars unto his crown. 


What is Lower Self prone to do ? 


Man’s lower self is prone to think ’tis might that makes the right, 
Man’s higher self distinctly sees ’tis right that makes the might. 


How shall we Distinguish betwixt the. High and Low? 

The difference betwixt. the two — high selfishness and low — 

Is that betwixt shortsightedness and wisdom’s reach clear through. 
Is not Benevolence Unselfish ? 

Oh, no! Benevolence is not unselfish in its action, 

It brings the chiefest of rewards — uncommon satisfaction. 

Is Nothing for Christs Sake or God’s Sake? 

All man’s pow’rs are within himself, and hence their every action 

Proceeds from self, all to this end —his own satisfaction. 
Shouldn’t we Praise the Lord? 


Praise everything that’s good, and keep our souls brim fall of joy, 
Of gratitude and love, then nought can bring ns much alloy. 


Shouldn't we Seek God’s Special Favor ? 


When I believed in Special Grace my prayers were then so many, 
That I had been an Astor now had each one brought a guinea, 
But still I hardly gained a’sou until I ceased to pray — [vocally] 
Let reason, not blind faith, take helm, then life began to pay — 
When common sense got hold of Law, then all was clear as day. 





— 





Recapitulation. 159 


What Is Absolute Justice ? 


- Pure justice cannot come to earth till this great truth is known — 
That no man has a right to call a thing he has his own. 


Not even his Person 2 
No, no, my friend, not e’en himself — both he and his are God’s — 
His brain, his thought, his work, his life, his purse, his all — the 
Lord’s. ! , 
How shouid our All be used ? 
All should be used not for one’s self, but for the good of all, 
So each may taste the happy fruits of the wisdom of the whole. 


- Does Conscience Sanction ? | 
What else can answer the demands of conscience ripe in man? 
What else can bring the world’s release from jargon, but this 
plan? 
What is the Reason for this Demand ? 


The poor man were the rich man’s self, if born and bred as he, 
And if his chains do not bind him, fate only makes him free. 
What meanness, then, to grind the poor with circumstantial favors, 
What else can Justice do with such but brand them all as shavers? 


How should it be ? 


Men’s brains and muscles, equally, should unite in love to bring 
The highest earthly happiness out of every earthly thing; 

And all the gifts that all possess, in body, head and heart, 
Should build up common treasuries, so each may share a part 
According to their needs and wants, as wisdom might declare, — 
Then none would suffer — surfeit none —’tis justice thus to share. 


What would come of tt ? 


Then riches could no more corrupt, or poverty curse men more, 
Then every earthly blessing would concentre there in store. 
Then hearty love and high respect would be the great reward 
Which genius and self-sacrifice would get for doing good. 
Reward enough for any man — the highest to be given, 

Eternal Justice would be there to compensate with heaven. 


How shall this Great Work be done ? 


The work is easy when men’s wills are ready for the plan, 
Impossibilities are scarce when union shouts —“ We can.” 

The rich and wise should band themselves in brotherly alliance, 
And deal out wealth and wisdom to all who would affiance, 
According to the Golden Rule — that bond of honor given, 

Which keeps the lines of duty clear, and opes the door to heaven. 
Let those who won’t, stand back a while, and eat the fruits of vice, 
Till strength is gained to conquer them with love and wise device. 








160 Common Sense Theology. 


What Power shall accomplish this ? 


Self-int’rest, well enlightened, is “ the power behind the throne,” 
Which will be used to bring about this greatest work yet known. 
Self-int’rest builds our factories and runs them day and night, 
Self-int’rest gathers armed hosts and leads them forth to fight. 
Self-int’rest does, tis plain to see, do all out grandest things, 
Gets up our State and worldly fairs, and then our Gilmore sings. 
Self-int’rest builds our colleges and all our common schools, 
Self-int’rest is the basic law which every mortal rules. 
Self-int’rest will, when it shall see how people ought to do, 
Compel itself to organize, and put communion through. [powers, 
Well martialled it shall tramp right on through all opposing 
And plant itself in Canaan, where Justice builds her towers. 


What Then? 


Then cannons, swords and muskets, all useless, will be made 

Unto implements of husbandry—the plough, the hoe, the spade — 
Then holy lives and unions shall beget a nobler race, [ face — 
With more perfect brains and bodies, and more comeliness of 
Then labor will be equalized, so every one shall find 

Leisure well to cultivate and beautify the mind. 

Then will that New Jerusalem, so often spoken of, [1OVe. Ge 
Come down to this distracted world, right from the heaven of 
Then the Prophets and Apostles will visit earth again, 

To see this New Jerusalem and sing a glad refrain ‘ 
O’er the triumph of their mission, in bringing men to see 

That justice, love and purity, alone, can make men free — 

Then order, peace and harmony shall reign throughout the land — 
Then every human being will in joyful freedom stand — 

Then, O then! ye longing ones! will Earth’s Millennium be — 


Then, O then! but not till then! can Earth her good tine see! 


Who has no Peace ? 


There comes no peace to any soul whose heart’s not true to truth, 
In hell be lives — in hell he’ll die — in hell remain forsooth, 

Till he has gained the power to be sincere in all bis acts, 

Then God is his, and he is God’s — Honesty is what man lacks. 


What tf All Men were Honest 2 


Tf all men were but honest in whatever they might do, 

Then heaven would come in double quick, and earth be born anew. 

Then war and want and woe would cease, and none would need: : 
to say 4 

You must be born again, poor soul, FOR SIN WOULD FLEE AWAY. | 

















THE GETTY CENTER 
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